Introduction

A Man in Full is a novel by Tom Wolfe, published in 1998. Set in Atlanta, Georgia, the narrative follows multiple characters, including Charlie Croker, a real estate mogul teetering on bankruptcy, and Conrad Hensley, an honest, hardworking young man whose life intersects with Croker's in surprising ways.

Tom Wolfe, a renowned journalist and author, was known for his clever social commentary and distinctive New Journalism writing style. A Man in Full explores the cultural and economic issues of the late 20th century and showcases Wolfe's observations on American society. Wolfe's focus on themes like power, wealth, race, and social status categorizes the novel as political fiction with a satirical edge.

Plot Summary

Sixty-year-old Charles "Charlie" Croker is healthy, wealthy, and successful. He lives in Atlanta, owns multiple properties, runs a thriving real estate business, and maintains a somewhat functional family.

His first wife, Martha, received a generous settlement after their divorce, and his three children are well provided for. His current wife, Serena, is half his age, and they have an 11-month-old daughter together. Charlie is a content man living a comfortable life.

Things go downhill when one of the office buildings Charlie built starts spending more money than it earns, plunging him into debt. Charlie's business in California, Crocker Global Foods, cuts expenses and regrettably lays off employees to resolve his financial woes. One of the employees who gets fired is Conrad Hensley.

Unlike Charlie, Conrad is not as fortunate. He lives in a modest home in Pittsburg, California, and drives an old car. At 23, Conrad is already married and a father of two, and the pressure of providing for a family sauces him stress and anxiety. He is ambitious and diligent, dreaming of buying a new home and making more money. However, he is now out of work, and his car has just been towed.

He goes to look for his car, and after a confrontation with the attendants, the police intervene and arrest Conrad for assault. In jail, he struggles mentally and emotionally, turning to books for solace. His wife accidentally sends him a book on Stoic philosophy, which immediately fascinates him and inspires him to try to see the world from a new perspective.

Meanwhile, Fareek "the Cannon" Fanon, a popular African-American football star, is wrongly accused of sexually assaulting Elizabeth Armholster, the 18-year-old daughter of wealthy businessman Inman Armholster. Inman, even more successful and relevant than Charlie, is Charlie's close friend and trusted business partner.

With race riots at an all-time high, Fanon's coach wants to avoid any scandal. He suggests that Fanon hire Roger White II, a wealthy and respected light-skinned African-American lawyer.

Roger, known as Roger Too White, drives an expensive car, wears luxury clothes, and has connections with many notable figures in Atlanta. He often feels alienated from his community, believing he must succeed in predominantly white professions and mingle with the right people. Among those is Wesley Dobbs Jordan, Atlanta's mayor—an African-American in a position of power similar to Roger's and his close friend.

The mayor asks Charlie to publicly support Fanon in hopes of helping Roger win his case. He believes Charlie's status as an influential white businessman and former football star could be beneficial. In exchange, he promises to assist Charlie with his financial troubles. However, his friend, Inman, urges Charlie to side with his daughter instead. Charlie feels torn and struggles to make a decision.

Meanwhile, in California, an earthquake strikes, destroying the jail and allowing Conrad to escape. He encounters a group of Asian immigrants who decide to help him by giving him clothes and sending him to Atlanta for a better life.

Soon, Conrad is reunited with Charlie, who hires him for work. The two become friends, and Conrad teaches Charlie about stoicism.

Charlie realizes he must embrace stoic philosophy to regain his strength and tackle challenges in his own way. He gives up his empire and refuses to support or praise Fanon. Although others might see him as someone who lost everything, Charlie feels he has won and sees himself as a man in full.