John Self, a hedonistic commercial director, navigates a chaotic existence fueled by addiction and the pursuit of excess until his life begins to unravel under the weight of his own moral bankruptcy. Self operates within a landscape of urban decay and corporate artifice, moving between the high-stakes environments of London and New York. His primary objective is the satisfaction of his insatiable appetites for pornography, fast food, and financial gain, yet he is constantly thwarted by his own incompetence and the predatory nature of the industry he inhabits. The narrative is presented through a cynical, first-person perspective that emphasizes the protagonist's detachment from reality and his inability to reconcile his desires with the consequences of his actions.

Readers and critics frequently highlight the novel's aggressive, high-energy prose and its uncompromising portrayal of a deeply flawed protagonist. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of the satire in capturing the excesses of the late twentieth-century financial world. Many observers note that the balance between the protagonist's repulsive behavior and the sharp, witty social commentary creates a unique reading experience. The atmosphere is consistently described as claustrophobic and cynical, reflecting the protagonist's own internal state. Ultimately, the work is recognized for its stylistic audacity and its refusal to offer the reader any traditional moral comfort.