The laughs, the drama, and the many takes on class and race relations are unrelenting in this comic novel about a streetwise character named Watt who lives in Harlem with his grandmother, a renowned voodoo priestess. Watt's job is to administer "slap therapy"-technically calibrated, therapeutic body slaps-at Dr. Otto Von Geber's treatment center for those who suffer from Chronic Millionaire Burnout (CMB). Millionaires (and billionaires) afflicted with CMB search in vain for a purpose, feel that life is meaningless, and have come to realize that they can't trust a single soul. It's a little-known disease, however, because if it became common knowledge that wealth and power are such difficult burdens to bear, it could undermine the global economy.
When one of Watt's richest patients dies during a therapy session, Watt becomes an instant fugitive, hiding in New York City haunts from Harlem to the posh Sutton Place. All the while, he is pursued by Jehoover, the ruthless and merciless Old Testament police captain who has sworn to kill Watt.
This gutsy New York novel moves between the worlds of the rich and the poor, highlighting the comedy and tragedy that binds the two, and indeed all of us, together.