Being There

Jerzy Kosinski

Dec 2007 · Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

About this ebook

A quirky, brilliant novel starring Chauncey Gardiner, an enigmatic man who rises from nowhere to become a media phenomenon—“a fabulous creature of our age” (Newsweek).
 
One of the most beloved novels by the New York Times–bestselling and National Book Award–winning author of The Painted Bird and Pinball, Being There is the story of a mysterious man who finds himself at the center of Wall Street and Washington power—including his role as a policy adviser to the president—despite the fact that no one is quite sure where he comes from, or what he is actually talking about. Nevertheless, Chauncey “Chance” Gardiner is celebrated by the media, and hailed as a visionary, in this satirical masterpiece that became an award-winning film starring Peter Sellers.
 
As wise and timely as ever, Being There is “a tantalizing knuckleball of a book delivered with perfectly timed satirical hops and metaphysical flutters” (Time).

Ratings and reviews

I know there are people who truly appreciated this book and I can see why. However, I would like to disclaim that I personally don't like this book because of its unnecessary lewd scenes. I believe that great books can achieve some sort of meaning without the need to display carnal intimacy unless it is appropriate. I believe this book is not my cup of tea but if there are readers who truly enjoyed this book, then make reviews about it if you will. I read this book and watched the movie for English class and I was not so sure about my feelings about this. On the flip side, I did enjoy some awkward scenes mostly displayed in the film because I found it humorous in its own way. It was just some scenes in the book I found sort of disturbing because I am a young reader. I guess there will be young people who don't mind these scenes, but it is just me. This is my opinion. From the book and film, I liked certain parts where the main protagonist was just absorbing anything that is being imposed/assumed of him all because of what he learned from watching TV. The last two chapters made me laugh, though.

So unbelievable as to possibly be annoying to some readers. I just enjoyed the quick, non complex read.

One of the best books ever

About the author

Born on June 14, 1933, of Mieczyslaw and Elzbieta Kosinski in Lodz, Poland, Jerzy Kosinski came to the United States in 1957. He was naturalized in 1965. Kosinski obtained MA degrees in social sciences and history from the University of Lodz, and as a Ford Foundation Fellow completed his postgraduate studies in sociology at both the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw and Columbia University in New York.

Kosinski wrote The Future Is Ours, Comrade (1960) and No Third Path (1962), both collections of essays he published under the pen name of Joseph Novak. He is the author of the novels The Painted Bird (1965), Steps (1968), Being There (1971), The Devil Tree (first edition 1973, revised in 1981), Cockpit (1975), Blind Date (1977), Passion Play (1979), Pinball (1982), and The Hermit of 69th Street (1988).

As a Guggenheim Fellow, Kosinski studied at the Center for Advanced Studies at Wesleyan University; subsequently he taught American prose at Princeton and Yale universities. He then served the maximum two terms as president of the American Center of PEN, the international association of writers and editors. He was also a Fellow of Timothy Dwight College at Yale University. Kosinski founded and served as president of the Jewish Presence Foundation, based in New York. He won the National Book Award for Steps, the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in literature, best Screenplay of the Year Award for Being There from both the Writers Guild of America and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the B'rith Shalom Humanitarian Freedom Award, the Polonia Media Award, the American Civil Liberties Union First Amendment Award and International House Harry Edmonds Life Achievement Award.

Kosinski was a recipient of honorary PhDs in Hebrew letters from Spertus College of Judaica and in humane letters from both Albion College, Michigan (1988) and Potsdam College of New York State University (1989). An adept of photographic art, with one-man exhibitions to his credit in Warsaw's State Crooked Circle Gallery (1957), André Zarre Gallery in New York (1988), and in the Spertus College of Judaica in Chicago (1992), Mr. Kosinski was also an avid polo player and skier. In his film-acting debut in Warren Beatty's Reds, he portrayed Grigori Zinoviev, the Russian revolutionary leader. Mr. Kosinski died in New York on May 3, 1991.