A Doubter's Almanac by Ethan Canin

A sweeping, multigenerational novel about genius, obsession, and the fragile balance between brilliance and madness.  In A Doubter’s Almanac, Ethan Canin crafts an extraordinary portrait of intellectual brilliance and emotional struggle across generations.
 
Milo Andret is a mathematical prodigy — a man whose extraordinary mind and relentless pursuit of perfection define his life and destroy his relationships. As his brilliance gives way to isolation and self-doubt, his legacy is carried forward by his son, who must face the weight of inheritance and genius in his own way.
 
Milo Andret’s mathematical talent is both gift and curse, leading him to towering professional success and devastating personal cost. When his son inherits both his intellect and his insecurities, the story expands into a meditation on family, ambition, and the nature of genius itself.
 
Set against the backdrop of academia and the quiet beauty of the American Midwest, Canin’s novel explores how the human mind — capable of such wonder — can also be undone by its own perfectionism. Written with sensitivity and power, this is literary fiction at its finest: ambitious, compassionate, and deeply moving.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
A powerful story of genius, family, and emotional inheritance.
Ethan Canin’s prose is elegant, layered, and thought-provoking.
Perfect blend of literary depth and human warmth.
Explores ambition, creativity, and the limits of understanding.
Resonates with readers who enjoy stories of flawed brilliance.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.
Readers of literary and character-driven fiction.
Book clubs seeking rich discussion about genius and family.
Anyone intrigued by stories about art, intellect, and redemption.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed A Doubter’s Almanac, you might also like:
The Overstory by Richard Powers — intellect, nature, and connection.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides — family, inheritance, and identity.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr — beauty, intellect, and loss intertwined.