Setinaparallelyetalltoofamiliarnearpast,abrilliantsubversivenovelaboutalifelongfriendshipthreatenedbyculturewars,fromtheNewYorkTimesbestsellingauthor.Inanalternative2011,theMentalParitymovementtakeshold.Americansnowembracethesacred,universaltruththatthereisnosuchthingasvariablehumanintelligence.Becauseeveryoneisequallysmart,discriminationagainstpurportedlydumbpeopleis“thelastgreatcivilrightsfight.“Tests,grades,andemploymentqualificationsarealldiscarded.ChildrenareexpelledforsayingtheS-word(“stupid“)andencouragedtoreportparentswhouseitathome.AcollegeEnglishinstructor,theconstitutionallyrebelliousPearsonConverserejectedherrestrictiveJehovah’sWitnessupbringingasateenager,andsohasanaversiontodogmaofanykind.Madeimpotentintheuniversityclassroom,she’salsoenragedbythecrushingofherexceptionallybrightchildren’sspiritsinprimaryschool.Fortunately,sheenjoystheconfidenceofabestfriend,amediacommentatorwithwhomshecanspeakfranklyabouthersociallyunacceptablecontemptfortheMPmovement.Oratleastshethinksshecan...untilonedaythepoliticalchasmbetweenthetwowomenbecomesuncrossable,andalifelongrelationshipimplodes.WithechoesofPhilipRoth’sTheHumanStain,toldinLionelShriver’sinimitableandiconoclasticvoice,Maniaisasharp,acerbic,andruthlesslyfunnybookabouttheroadtoadelusional,self-destructiveegalitarianismthatoursocietyisalreadyon.
