Bruce Gold a middle-aged Jewish professor of English literature finds himself on the brink of a golden career in politics -- and not a moment too soon as Gold yearns for an opportunity to transform a less-than-picture-perfect life: His children think little of him his intimidating father endlessly bullies him and his wife is so oblivious that she doesn t even notice he s left her. As funny as it is sad Good as Gold is a story of children grown up parents grown old and friends and lovers grown apart -- a story that is inimitably Heller.