Super Short Summary

Mr. Vertigo by Paul Auster follows nine-year-old Walt Rawley, who is taken under the wing of an enigmatic man named Master Yehudi in 1920s America. Walt learns to fly through rigorous and mystical training at Yehudi's farmhouse, where he encounters diverse housemates and overcomes his own prejudices. His journey from disadvantaged youth to a famed performer symbolizes personal and national transformation, exploring themes of resilience, identity, and what it means to be American. The novel contains instances of racism and violence.