Asa Leventhal, a man living a solitary life in New York, finds his equilibrium shattered when a stranger accuses him of ruining his life. Leventhal, a sub-editor for a trade magazine, faces a series of mounting personal and professional pressures while his wife is away. He is confronted by Kirby Allbee, a man who blames Leventhal for his own professional downfall, forcing Leventhal into a defensive position. The narrative follows a linear progression through the sweltering heat of a New York summer, emphasizing the claustrophobic nature of Leventhal's internal and external environment. The prose maintains a third-person limited perspective, focusing intensely on the protagonist's psychological unraveling.

Discussion often centers on the precise, clinical way Bellow dissects the protagonist's descent into paranoia. Readers frequently highlight the effectiveness of the oppressive, humid atmosphere in mirroring Leventhal's internal state. Critics often note the book's focus on the ambiguity of blame and the complex power dynamics between the two central characters. The work is widely regarded for its intellectual depth and its refusal to offer easy moral resolutions for the reader. Many appreciate how the narrative maintains a tight focus on character development over external action throughout the story.