A Narcissist's Guide to Philanthropy (Paperback or Softback)

Mark and Jane have it all: high-profile jobs, perfect bodies, a property in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, and popular friends.

But beneath this shiny veneer, they’re grappling with society’s misunderstanding of their true identities. Mark, a hotshot civil rights lawyer, feels overshadowed by Jane’s close friend. Meanwhile Jane, a brilliant architect, dreads the thought of being labelled just a ‘boss bitch’ – a stereotype that belies her ‘wholesome’ social life.

As they attempt to correct the injustices surrounding their images, their carefully constructed world begins to crack. Relationships fray, secrets emerge, and their conflicting pursuits threaten to unravel everything they’ve worked so hard to build.

This biting satire of Sydney’s millennial culture provokes readers to question:
Is authenticity just another performance? And does the social impact of one’s actions excuse their shallow motivations?

Louis Talay holds a PhD in sociology, teaches literature and European studies courses at the University of Sydney, and works as a quantitative researcher at a tech company. His hobbies include bodyboarding, track running, and heavily distorted rock music. A Narcissist's Guide to Philanthropy is his debut novel.