Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | All That Man Is | 2016 | David Szalay | Buy |
| 2 | Turbulence | 2019 | David Szalay | Buy |
David Szalay’s two story collections represent his most acclaimed work. All That Man Is (2016) was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and follows men of different ages across Europe in linked stories that build a portrait of contemporary male experience. Turbulence (2019) applies a similar structure to air travel, connecting twelve strangers across the world.
All That Man Is arranges its stories by the age of each protagonist, starting with a teenager and ending with an elderly man. The effect is cumulative rather than plot-driven. Each story works on its own, but together they form something larger about how men live now, particularly across a Europe that feels fragmented and uncertain.
Szalay’s prose is sparse and controlled. He rarely tells the reader what to feel. Turbulence tightens the format even further, with each brief story handing off to the next as characters cross paths in airports and on flights. Both books reward patient readers who appreciate structure and restraint over dramatic fireworks.