What do you think?
Rate this book
The Man Who Gave Up His Name
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1978
6 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Jim Harrison
184 books1,493 followersJim Harrison was born in Grayling, Michigan, to Winfield Sprague Harrison, a county agricultural agent, and Norma Olivia (Wahlgren) Harrison, both avid readers. He married Linda King in 1959 with whom he has two daughters.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
His awards include National Academy of Arts grants (1967, 68, 69), a Guggenheim Fellowship (1969-70), the Spirit of the West Award from the Mountain & Plains Booksellers Association, and election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2007).
Much of Harrison's writing depicts sparsely populated regions of North America with many stories set in places such as Nebraska's Sand Hills, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Montana's mountains, and along the Arizona-Mexico border.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
His awards include National Academy of Arts grants (1967, 68, 69), a Guggenheim Fellowship (1969-70), the Spirit of the West Award from the Mountain & Plains Booksellers Association, and election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2007).
Much of Harrison's writing depicts sparsely populated regions of North America with many stories set in places such as Nebraska's Sand Hills, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Montana's mountains, and along the Arizona-Mexico border.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 19, 2015
This novella is the second of three in Jim Harrison's collection Legends of the Fall. I first read the collection more than 20 years ago, but reread this one just last summer.
The concepts Harrison explores with "The Man Who Gave Up His Name" are similar to those of his other works around this time: What is an authentic life? What does it mean to be a man in a time of great social change? How does one truly define success as you grow older and realize that what you thought success was seems so hollow?
Of course, there's plenty of sex and violence as well. Those familiar with the relationship between Harrison and singer Jimmy Buffett will enjoy Harrison's reference to one of Buffett's tunes from the album Son of a Son of Sailor, and that Buffett later drew inspiration from the novella for his song "Lage Nom Ai."
Ultimately, the end disappointed me, as it seems like he couldn't figure out how to end elegantly so he ended violently. But with Harrison, it's never the destination that matters, but rather the journey.
The concepts Harrison explores with "The Man Who Gave Up His Name" are similar to those of his other works around this time: What is an authentic life? What does it mean to be a man in a time of great social change? How does one truly define success as you grow older and realize that what you thought success was seems so hollow?
Of course, there's plenty of sex and violence as well. Those familiar with the relationship between Harrison and singer Jimmy Buffett will enjoy Harrison's reference to one of Buffett's tunes from the album Son of a Son of Sailor, and that Buffett later drew inspiration from the novella for his song "Lage Nom Ai."
Ultimately, the end disappointed me, as it seems like he couldn't figure out how to end elegantly so he ended violently. But with Harrison, it's never the destination that matters, but rather the journey.
July 11, 2025
It's fine... 2.5 stars rounded up to 3
Interesting premise and some interestingthemes... but halfway it's like the author forgot what the character was like and started inventing a back story for him that was totally different from the character arc which had already been established.
Interesting premise and some interestingthemes... but halfway it's like the author forgot what the character was like and started inventing a back story for him that was totally different from the character arc which had already been established.
March 25, 2018
Fun little novella!
January 23, 2020
განსაკუთრებულია..
April 12, 2020
Felt it wasn’t as good as his other stories. A emotionally stunted man having what seems like a severe mid-life crisis.
January 4, 2022
Short stories not a novel.
April 11, 2023
divorced men are just like that i think
October 23, 2024
It's good, but felt like the ending could have been a lot better
Lage Nom Ai Nom Ai
Lage Nom Ai Nom Ai
January 7, 2026
one of my favorites
February 4, 2025
Что мне понравилось в этой новелле от Джима Гаррисона, это его честный мужской взгляд на изменения, через которые проходит взрослый мужчина. Здесь весьма много места занимают размышления о сексе, а также реакции на женщин вокруг и различные ситуации. Но также в новелле есть место исследованию себя и тема поиска собственного смысла жизни.
Главный герой проходит через развод, взросление дочери, пересмотр ценностей, утрату близкого человека, переосмысление значения денег, их места в жизни, и привязанностей в жизни. Он пробует неизведанное и открывается новым возможностям. Несмотря на крайне странный и сумасшедший эпизод в отеле (тут без спойлеров), за трансформацией героя интересно наблюдать и дополнять его портрет новыми штрихами.
А ещё почему-то тронуло то, как Нордстром умеет отдаваться чувствам и страсти, будь то танцы, кулинария, секс или решения в жизни. В этом есть какая-то сила и внутренняя опора на себя.
Запомнившаяся цитата из новеллы:
Главный герой проходит через развод, взросление дочери, пересмотр ценностей, утрату близкого человека, переосмысление значения денег, их места в жизни, и привязанностей в жизни. Он пробует неизведанное и открывается новым возможностям. Несмотря на крайне странный и сумасшедший эпизод в отеле (тут без спойлеров), за трансформацией героя интересно наблюдать и дополнять его портрет новыми штрихами.
А ещё почему-то тронуло то, как Нордстром умеет отдаваться чувствам и страсти, будь то танцы, кулинария, секс или решения в жизни. В этом есть какая-то сила и внутренняя опора на себя.
Запомнившаяся цитата из новеллы:
«Жизнь — это только то, что ты делаешь каждый день»
November 7, 2015
Some good writing, but I don't think I came away with anything of meaning.
January 6, 2017
This book was great!! I really like the main character, Nordstrom, despite his many flaws.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews