Cosmopolis by Don DeLillo

Cosmopolis by Don DeLillo is a thought-provoking novel set in New York City, focusing on the life of a 28-year-old billionaire asset manager, Eric Packer. The narrative unfolds over the course of a single day, during which Eric embarks on a seemingly simple journey: to get a haircut. However, this mundane task turns into a sprawling exploration of Eric’s inner life, the chaos of capitalism, and the disintegration of personal and societal structures around him.

The novel’s central theme revolves around the fragility of wealth, power, and control. Eric Packer, a prodigy of the financial world, has built his life on algorithms, currency speculation, and complex market predictions. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that his empire, much like the city around him, is built on fragile foundations. He begins to suffer massive financial losses due to a speculative bet against the yen, but this loss seems to parallel a deeper unraveling within him—a psychological and existential crisis.

DeLillo uses Packer’s character as a lens through which to critique the modern capitalist system. Packer’s limousine, which he uses to navigate through the chaotic city streets, acts as a mobile fortress, symbolizing his detachment from reality and his desperate need for control. Throughout his journey, Packer encounters various people—employees, lovers, and strangers—each interaction exposing different facets of his disconnection from the human experience.

The backdrop of the novel is a New York City gripped by social unrest, protest, and fear of terrorism, painting a vivid picture of the anxieties of the early 21st century. DeLillo’s prose is often cold and clinical, mirroring the sterile, technology-driven world Packer inhabits. Yet, beneath the surface, the novel explores deeply human concerns—mortality, the search for meaning, and the eventual dissolution of self.

Cosmopolis is a dense and complex novel that examines the corrosive effects of capitalism on both individuals and society at large. Through Eric Packer’s disintegration, DeLillo paints a portrait of a world teetering on the edge of collapse.