Skyscraper of a Man

From Michael Bowe, author of The Weight of a Moment, Winner of the American Fiction Award for Literary Fiction in 2020.


Skyscraper of a Man is a truly American story. Rooted in the homogenous suburbs of the 1970s, the novel explores the American propensity to pursue great ambitions, regardless of upbringing, that can result in lives that are larger than life. The four main characters meet at college and forge such lives, each achieving remarkable success in their chosen pursuits. The main character, Benjamin Matthews, the son of a printer and avid Revolutionary War buff, believes deeply in America, its founding principles, and "by the people, for the people" government. Inspired by the grand ideals of the Founding Fathers, Ben starts a newspaper and runs for political office, efforts aimed at righting a nation he sees as falling short of its potential and promise. His three college friends, a writer who is also his business partner, a news anchorwoman who was his lover, and a former college football star, play roles in his rise to national prominence. In the end, Ben learns that grand ideals are elusive, hard to maintain, and better left to the perfect among us.