BITS OF ME ARE FALLING APART (P/B)

ONE MORNING, WILLIAM LEITH WAKES UP AND REALISES THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. HE IS ALONE AND AT THE END OF HIS TETHER. BITS OF HIM ARE FALLING APART. WITH HIS TRADEMARK DARKLY HUMOROUS MIX OF PERSONAL STORY AND SOCIAL COMMENTARY, LEITH ATTEMPTS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION IS EVERYTHING REALLY AS BAD AS IT SEEMS?'YOU'LL READ THIS BOOK IN A WEEKEND LEITH IS, AFTER ALL, A VERY GOOD WRITER SUCCINCT EXCEPT WHEN HE'S REPEATING HIMSELF FOR EFFECT; AMUSING EXCEPT WHEN HE'S PREDICTING THE END OF THE WORLD; PERCEPTIVE EXCEPT WHEN HE'S PRETENDING HE CAN'T REMEMBER WHO ACTUALLY SANG PINK FLOYD'S TIME, OR WHICH DUTCH EXPLORER DISCOVERED EASTER ISLAND LEITH'S BRAIN IS SHARPER THAN MOST, AND HE DEFTLY WEAVES SOLIPSISTIC WOE INTO MORE PRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT THE HOUSING MARKET AND THE FAILURE OF WESTERN CAPITALISM. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY IMPORTANT BOOK FOR OUR TIMES' ANDREW COLLINS, MAIL ON SUNDAY