armed with a doctorate from harvard, the hero of this novel sallies into academe and becomes a professor of economics, dean of a business school, critic of the desexualization of women, and dilettante lover. but before all this, he swerves as first lieutenant of the destroyer u.s.s. hobson during world war ii and, recalled to active duty, he becomes chief engineer of the destroyer u.s.s. hunt during the korean war. his experiences aboard ship are reminiscent of the trials and tribulations portrayed in herman wouk's the caine mutiny. throughout his errant life, he encounters such leading lights as mark van doren, mae and walter reuther, vernon jordan (his family's first baby-sitter), jimmy hoffa, and vladimir androsov, a professor from moscow. the literate byplay between john and his brother donald, a professor of english and comparative literature, yield amazing insights into the publish-or-perish cuckoo land of university imbroglios. "the four careers of the hero make fascinating reading: professor, naval officer, pioneeer in forensic economics, and author. his humor, indiscretions, and pedantry broaden the dimensions of this exciting story." ?stuart m. speiser, esq. "i found maher's book a pure delight. this horatio alger story of an ill-nurtured orphan growing up during the great depression, his adventures as a naval officer and professor of economics, his published work, are an inspiration to every reader." ?allen a. cramer "the triumphs and tragedies in this realistic and entertaining novel clearly reveal the making of a male chauvinist pedant. the reader should especially study chapter 19, 'sex and art: mania and hysteria.'" 桝bigail r. tremaine