Everyone likes a routine, or at least the familiarity of one, and Jason is no exception. He and his friends have been frequenting the same pub on the same night ever since college. Unfortunately, life has a way of getting in the way of such traditions, what with careers, weddings, kids...then one night, it happens: Jason finds himself sitting alone at the group’s table, wondering just what the hell happened. Luckily, he doesn’t have to wonder alone for long. Another regular fixture at the pub soon introduces himself, and in the first of many philosophical conversations, the two of them spent the evening contemplating the meaning of existence. And it couldn’t come at a better time. Jason’s life is about to get turned upside down. After finally building up the courage to ask out the beautiful girl in the elevator, after months of inane pleasantries, he is thrust unexpectedly into a pressure-filled and ethically questionable position at work—one that draws him and his new love into a whirlwind of corporate intrigue, espionage, and betrayal.

Edward Spencer's 1913 work is a collection of food essays interspersed with recipes and recollections of memorable meals.

So what does a guy do when most of his mates get married? For Roland, a 27-year-old public servant who lives with his parents, it results in a solo overseas trip that triggers a life-long obsession. Roland wanders the globe, through the continents of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. His journeys range from painstaking itinerant travel to the serendipity of spontaneous adventures and involve a plethora of unique experiences that enrich his knowledge, augment his appreciation of different cultures, impact his attitudes and uplift his spirits. However, approaching middle age, Roland feels it may be time for his travels to come to an end. Is it time to open a new chapter in his life and settle down to a comfortable existence in Australia? it is a question he wrestles with until circumstances ultimately decide his course.