4 3 2 1: A Novel by Paul Auster is an epic bildungsroman shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. The book, published on January 31, 2017, by Henry Holt and Co., explores the lives of four identical brothers born nearly two weeks early in 1947. Each brother, sharing the same DNA yet leading uniquely different paths, faces distinct family fortunes, athletic skills, sex lives, friendships, and intellectual passions. The novel is a sweeping narrative of birthright and possibility, love, and life itself, with each character’s journey intricately woven into a larger tapestry of human experience.

Named by The Washington Post, The New York Times Book Review, NPR, The Globe and Mail, Kirkus Reviews, Huffington Post, and The Spectator UK as one of the best books of the year, 4 3 2 1 is a New York Times Bestseller, a Los Angeles Times Bestseller, a Boston Globe Bestseller, and a National Indiebound Bestseller. Critics praise it as an “incredible journey” and “a pleasure to read,” with Tom Perrotta of The New York Times Book Review describing it as “original and complex.” Paul Auster’s greatest work is a testament to his unique storytelling prowess, blending inventiveness with a profound tenderness for life.

With 880 pages, this monumental novel offers readers a journey through the lives of four Fergusons, each experiencing love and loss under the spell of the same Amy Schneiderman. The book’s structure is both ambitious and masterful, making it an essential read for fans of Auster and literary fiction enthusiasts alike.