Overview
Ryan Kennedy has it all, but is it enough?
A day is a lifetime in politics.
Ryan Kennedy had it all – the perfect family, a successful career, and a life that others envied.
But something was missing, and Ryan was determined to find it, even if it meant giving up everything he had built.
In the cutthroat world of politics, the daily pressure to make decisions and face the consequences takes its toll on even the strongest individuals.
Ryan never wanted this life of stress and anxiety, but he found himself drawn in, becoming rich and famous in the process. Now, he regrets the path he has taken and yearns for the freedom to live a simpler life.
On this fateful day, Ryan struggles to navigate the challenges and conflicts that come with being a powerful man in politics – the pressure to make decisions, the people he must deal with, and the desires of influential women in his life – his wife, his lover, his daughter, and even the prime minister. He wonders if he made the right choice in not getting into the van with Selena, longing for the days when things were easier.
But as his secret worlds collide, exposing him as the shallow man he hates, Ryan is forced to confront his crisis head-on and make a decision that will shape his future.
SELFISH AMBITIONS is the story of one man’s journey to find his true identity and live life on his own terms. In the world of politics, a single day can feel like a lifetime.
Author Information
THEMES USED IN SELFISH AMBITIONS
ANGST
In SELFISH AMBITIONS, the author has been drawn to the angst many men wrestle with toward the end of their careers as they prepare for the usually unplanned last stage of their lives.
The men researched for SELFISH AMBITIONS indicated their feelings of leaving a legacy, their angst about if they truly mattered to others, and contentment with their lives. They also disclosed their imagination of what their life may have been if they made different choices. Many reminisced about what might have been, and if the challenges they faced in their lives were necessary.
This is the basis of the story – a man’s search for self-discovery and his wish for meaning.
RESPONSIBILITY
Do we seek responsibility, or does society expect us to step forward when decisions need to be made?
It is natural to wonder if we have made a difference, if we have done enough, and if we have done the right thing by others.
Many leaders have declared they retain self-doubt and often wonder why responsibility is not shared, sometimes becoming resentful as to why they seem to be the only person to bear the stress.
The story examines the life of a federal minister in the whirlpool of impostor syndrome, his feelings of insecurity and doubt, and the impact he has on his world. Often the male voice is silent in contemporary discussion about feelings and male mental health.
SELFISH AMBITIONS may provide a view on the silent, perhaps lonely men in our community who may struggle with their role but still strive to make a positive impact.
LOVE
The lonely search for love can afflict many in our community, as the divorce rates may indicate.
We sometimes forget the reason why we love others, as the stress of loveless feelings and whimsy for the past shrouds our thinking. The past can hold lessons and fond memories, but it is not a place to dwell as some look back with regret wishing for a different path or outcome.
The story examines the loneliness of love, a search for love, and finding it.
Readers’ Comment
This book could also be called “The Trials and Tribulations of Man In The Midst Of A Mid-Life Crisis”, as this is exactly what is happening with our main man, Ryan Kennedy. We are always reading about women of a certain age, and all of the troubles they go through with life and love, so it was invigorating to have the tale from the man’s side. – Amazon
SELFISH AMBITIONS includes important themes, such as career sacrifices, friendship challenges, extramarital romantic interests, and difficulties in raising children. – Reader
I thoroughly enjoyed this thought provoking book. We often hear about the trials of middle aged women, but rarely from middle aged men. Set over one day, Ryan Kennedy, MP, a man who apparently has it all, reveals his regrets, fears and weaknesses as well as facing some unpleasant home truths. He has his faults, but fundamentally is a good man. The political issues that he faces in his industry portfolio are explored like unionism, globalisation, cost of labour and leadership. It raised the question in my mind of whether we expect too much of our political leaders. If you enjoy thinking about politics, this book is ideal. I particularly enjoyed the twist at the end when his grubby mistress gets her comeuppance! All in all, a satisfying read and a book that would be a great talking point for book clubs.
Thanks to 852 Press for a copy to review and enjoy. – Good Reads