Reason For Leaving: Job Stories

by John Manderino

On a job application, there's that tricky question: reason for leaving? John Manderino's answers are collected here in this hilarious novel tracing the history of a guy trying to grow up job by job. Delivery boy, altar boy, busboy, teacher, cotton picker, umpire, Zen monk—Manderino's protagonist tries on one hat after another.

179 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2001

About the author

JOHN MANDERINO lives in Maine with his wife Marie, where he teaches college writing and provides coaching and editing services to other writers. He has published three novels, a collection of short stories and a memoir with Academy Chicago. John has also written plays that have been performed at theater festivals and other venues. A stage version of his memoir Crying at Movies was recently produced."

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was first drawn to this title because of its premise: 17 stories, each one based on a different, disappointing job held by the narrator, tying together to form a spectacularly entertaining coming-of-age story. I picked it up with rather high expectations, simply based on that description (which is brilliantly creative), and I was not disappointed! Manderino's prose is clean and sharp, and every story is great, which is an unfortunate rarity in most short story collections. There really is something here for everyone, whether you're a drifter like our narrator, or someone who's stuck to a single job your whole life. Pick up this book. You will not be disappointed.

[Dr Penner · Rating 5 out of 5]


A great coming-of-age story told straightforward through the comings-and-goings of different jobs by the protagonist. To anyone (everyone) who has gone through a few different odd jobs before finding their way, Reason for Leaving is a great book that can help relive those wonderful days, hours, minutes, when you didn’t feel like you were actually living at all (Okay, a job painting fire hydrants isn’t that bad). Hilarious book.