All That Is

All That Is follows Philip Bowman from his experiences as a naval officer in World War II through the subsequent decades of his life in New York City. The narrative traces his career in book publishing and his relationships with women, family, and colleagues from the 1940s through the 1980s. The story moves through time in a linear fashion while maintaining focus on Bowman's inner world and personal connections. His work in the literary scene of mid-century Manhattan provides the backdrop for his marriages, affairs, and friendships. The novel captures both major historical shifts and intimate domestic moments of postwar American life. Characters move through environments ranging from naval battles to publishing offices to quiet homes in the Hamptons. Through Bowman's story, the book examines how a life accumulates meaning through love, work, and time. It raises questions about what defines a person's existence - whether it's the big moments or the small ones, the successes or the failures.

Readers note Salter's precise, elegant prose style but find the protagonist Philip Bowman difficult to connect with emotionally. The book's episodic structure and focus on relationships resonates with some while others see it as disconnected and meandering. Readers praised: - Vivid descriptions of post-WWII New York publishing world - Honest portrayals of intimacy and relationships - Sophisticated writing style and attention to detail Common criticisms: - Lack of plot momentum - Detached, cold main character - Treatment of female characters as objects - Repetitive relationship patterns - Too many minor characters to track Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (7,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (280+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (400+ ratings) Reader quote: "Beautiful sentences in search of a story" appears in multiple reviews. Several readers noted they appreciated individual passages but struggled to engage with the work as a whole.

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🔹 James Salter wrote "All That Is" at age 87, and it was his first full-length novel in over 30 years - also his final novel before his death in 2015. 🔹 The book's protagonist, Philip Bowman, works in publishing during the post-WWII boom of the American book industry, drawing from Salter's own experiences in the literary world. 🔹 Salter served as a fighter pilot in WWII and Korea before becoming a writer, which influences the military segments of the novel, particularly the opening scenes in Okinawa. 🔹 The author spent 7 years writing and revising "All That Is," crafting his signature precise prose style that earned him the nickname "the writer's writer." 🔹 Despite his critical acclaim and influence on American literature, this was only Salter's sixth novel in a career spanning more than five decades.