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The Explanation For Everything Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Explanation For Everything


Andy Waite, a professor of biology, is an atheist who begins to question his beliefs when he becomes romantically involved with a student who is a devout Christian. Andy Waite, a biology professor at a small college, is getting over the death of his wife while raising two daughters. Waite is an atheist who teaches a controversial class called "There Is No God." He's also trying to get funding for an experiment he's doing on laboratory mice that's supposed to prove that alcoholism is a genetic disorder. Waite is concerned with this issue because his young wife was killed by a drunk driver. He is also hoping that this research will help him get tenure at his college.
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Waite's life takes an unexpected turn when a student named Melissa asks to do an independent study with him. Melissa is a religious Christian who wants to research intelligent design, which is something that Waite vehemently opposes. Nevertheless, he reluctantly agrees to work with Melissa, and the two have heated arguments about religion and exchange books on the subject. Melissa begins babysitting for Waite's daughters. Waite and Melissa begin an affair, while Waite begins to read some of Melissa's books on intelligent design. He even meets members of her church. At this point, Waite starts to feel that perhaps there may be a God after all. To make his uncertainty even more pronounced, his experiments with the mice are not going as planned.

Waite is uncertain in many areas of his life. He tentatively begins an affair with one of his neighbors, a single mother who is struggling with alcoholism. Waite remains very angry at the young man who killed his wife. Waite periodically testifies at the man's parole hearings to prevent his early release. Yet as he begins to have second thoughts about religion, he wonders if he should be more forgiving. He eventually does what he can to help the convicted boy by encouraging him with his goals to earn a degree in prison.

Waite's own daughters are having their own struggles about religion, and one of them gets baptized at Melissa's church. Another factor that is making Waite question all of his beliefs concerns his mentor, Hank Rosenblum, a well known professor who is also an atheist. Waite and Rosenblum have been out of touch for years, but Waite finally receives a letter from the older man explaining why he dropped out of sight. Rosenblum actually arranged to have the letter sent after his own death, so Waite never gets to see his mentor in person again. It turns out that Rosenblum was indirectly responsible for the death of a brilliant young student. The student had been struggling with a crisis of faith that challenged her belief in science. Unable to resolve the conflict, she committed suicide. This incident, while not directly affecting Waite, has some parallels with his own situation.

By the end of the novel, Waite and Melissa have a falling out and end their affair. Waite's future at the college, as well as his attitude towards religion is left open-ended. We can conclude, however, that he is now more willing to consider alternatives to his original position of dogmatic atheism.
Best scene in story: My favorite scene was the baptizing of Waite's daughter. I respected the fact that Waite, even with his own inner conflicts about religion, was open minded enough to let his daughter make her own decisions.

Opinion about the main character: Although I had some sympathy for Andy Waite as he was still grieving for his wife, I didn't like his indecisiveness throughout the novel. First he begins an affair with his neighbor, who he then goes out of his way to avoid. Then he falls into an affair with Melissa against his better judgement. He also seems uncertain about whether he wants to continue teaching.

The review of this Book prepared by Larry Christopher a Level 1 Blue Jay scholar

Chapter Analysis of The Explanation For Everything

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Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   thoughtful Time/era of story    -   2000+ (Present Day) Internal struggle/realization?    -   Yes Struggle over    -   religious issues Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   teacher Age:    -   20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   White (American)

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   3 () United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Northeast

Writing Style

Sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   descript of kissing    -   touching of anatomy Amount of dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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Lauren Grodstein Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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