简介：Precocious,bohemianteenagerPlacidLake,finisheshighschoolanddecidestodotheonethingthatwillannoyhisnewageparentsthemost--gostraight!Withafewweeksspentreadingalibraryofself-helpmanuals,Placidhasitallsortedout--andhehasthehaircutandthecheapsuittoproveit.CanPlacidLakeretirehisrageinthepursuitofbeige;embraceconformityandleaponthefasttracktocorporatesuccess.Willhis'brainiac'friendGemmabeabletotalkhimoutofthiseconomicrationalistmadness?AndwillpoorDougandSylviasurvivetheignominyofhavingasonwithaburgeoningfutureininsurance?Neverunderestimatetheevilofbanality.…