The narrative centers on the eponymous Rappaport, a man navigating the mundane frustrations and existential absurdities of his daily life. As he attempts to assert his identity against the backdrop of a changing society, he finds himself constantly at odds with the expectations of his peers and the limitations of his own temperament. The story unfolds through a series of vignettes that highlight his peculiar reactions to social conventions and personal relationships. Lurie employs a sharp, observational tone to examine the friction between individual desire and the rigid structures of the world Rappaport inhabits.

This work is characterized by its dry, observational wit and its focus on the internal contradictions of its protagonist. The narrative style suggests a preoccupation with the minutiae of human behavior and the often-comical failures of the individual to conform to societal standards. Readers likely encounter a protagonist whose persistent, if misguided, efforts to define himself provide both amusement and a sense of profound isolation. The text functions as a study in character-driven fiction, where the pacing is dictated by the protagonist's shifting moods and reactions to his environment.