Babbitt offers a detailed exploration of the life of George F. Babbitt, a real estate agent in the fictional city of Zenith. Through the protagonist's interactions with his family, friends, and professional colleagues, the novel paints a vivid portrait of the complexities of 1920s American middle-class life. As Babbitt navigates his personal and professional world, he grapples with the tension between societal expectations and his own desires.

Chapters 1–7: A Day in the Life

In the opening chapters of Babbitt, we follow a single day in the life of the protagonist, George F. Babbitt, from the moment he awakens. His day starts with the mundane routine of interacting with his family—his wife and three children—over breakfast, with the usual familial squabbles. He then heads to his real estate office, stopping along the way to converse with his neighbor, Howard Littlefield, and offer a ride to a man waiting for the trolley.

At work, Babbitt spends his morning engaged in dictation, taking advantage of a grocer's ambition to expand, and indulging in cigar smoking, despite his vow to quit. Lunchtime sees him at the Athletic Club, a hub for Republican businessmen, where he meets his best friend, Paul Riesling. Paul doesn't quite fit the mold of the typical club member, as he confides in Babbitt about his troubled marriage and the ennui of their lifestyle.

They plan a getaway to Maine, hoping for a reprieve from their domestic lives. After work, Babbitt denies a raise to his salesman, Stanley Graff, and returns home to engage in a conversation with his son about college. Seeking solace, Babbitt takes a long bath and drifts to sleep, while Zenith's other residents continue their own dramas.

Chapters 8–14: Social Climbing and Discontent

The story progresses quickly after chapter seven, highlighting the Babbitts' spring dinner party as a major event. Despite Babbitt's efforts, the party's conversation remains uninspired, and he grows impatient for his guests to leave. Frustrated, he vents to his wife, expressing weariness with "everything and everybody," and reiterates his desire for a solo trip to Maine with Paul.

The Babbitts visit the Rieslings, and after a tense episode involving Paul's wife, Zilla, the men are allowed their retreat. Their time in Maine is idyllic, filled with fishing and poker, but cut short as their wives eventually join them. Babbitt returns home, reluctantly leaving behind the sense of calm he had begun to feel.

Back in Zenith, Babbitt participates in a Real Estate Boards conference, followed by a morally questionable visit to a brothel. His speech at the conference marks the beginning of his social ascent, as he engages in local politics, opposing liberal lawyer Seneca Doane and advocating for "sound business" principles.

Chapters 15–21: Ambitions and Downfalls

Intent on ingratiating himself with wealthy acquaintances, Babbitt hosts a dinner for his influential classmate, Charley McKelvey. The attempt is a failure, but Babbitt finds success with William Eathorne, a banker, during a campaign to improve the local Presbyterian Sunday school. Babbitt even pays journalist Kenneth Escott for favorable press coverage, inadvertently sparking a friendship between Kenneth and his daughter, Verona.

Meanwhile, Babbitt's son, Ted, begins dating their neighbor's daughter, Eunice Littlefield, causing her father, Howard, to react strongly when he catches them dancing together. At work, Babbitt engages in a shady financial deal and fires Stanley Graff, before taking a business trip to Chicago with Ted. While there, Babbitt encounters Paul Riesling in the company of another woman, leading to a confrontation about Paul's unhappy marriage.

Trouble brews as Babbitt is elected vice president of the Boosters. Then, shocking news arrives: Paul has shot...