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High above the bustling streets of Dubai, in the world's most luxurious skyscraper, reside the gods and goddesses of the modern world. Since they emerged 14 billion years ago from a bus blaring a tune remarkably similar to the Mister Softee jingle, they've wreaked mischief and havoc on mankind. Unable to control their jealousies, the gods have splintered into several factions, led by the immortal enemies XOXO, Shanice, La Felina, Fast-Cooking Ali, and Mogul Magoo. Ike Karton, an unemployed butcher from New Jersey, is their current obsession.

In this utterly unconventional autobiographical novel, Mark Leyner gives a reading in the food court of a mall. Besides Mark's mother, who's driven him to the mall and introduces him before he begins, and a few employees of fast food chain Panda Express who ask a handful of questions, the reading is completely without audience. The action of Gone with the Mind takes place exclusively at the food court, but the territory covered in this audio has no bounds.

An anthropologist and his daughter travel to Kermunkachunk, the capitol of Chalazia, to conduct research for an ethnography on the Chalazian Mafia Faction (a splinter group of the Chalazian Children's Theater). The book takes place over the course of a night at the Bar Pulpo, Kermunkachunk's #1 spoken-word karaoke bar, where conversations are actually being read from multiple karaoke screens arrayed around the barroom. Moreover, it's Thursday, "Father/Daughter Nite", when the bar is frequented by actual fathers and daughters as well as couples cosplaying fathers and daughters.

Apparently recorded soon after The Kid entered his penthouse retreat. The Kid mixes conversations and beats deep into his drug-induced bliss, Kim Jong Il opines on pop culture while worrying about The Kid, the concierge weighs in on the Hague tribunals, Coach Franks threatens, and The Kid begins a budding friendship with Kate. Amelia supplies "turn down service."

The Kid's parents are apparently captives of the fearsome Filipino Islamic terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf - Bearers of the Sword. Their demands? Produce a million dollars or heads will roll. The Kid beseeches Kim for advice on placating these terrorists - but where's Kim? He turns to Dr. Darwin for more meds. Holly and her friends wonder where her dance mix is. Coach Franks peddles athletic prowess. The Concierge explains the mysteries of love. The Kid and Kate may mate. Amelia sings a sexy song.

The events of 9/11 have done little to diminish The Kid's growing paranoia. Kim Jong Il is on the coalition's enemies list, but he's wondering how the fall TV and movie schedules are shaping up, and what is Larry David's management style like? Coach Franks is undaunted, the Concierge searches for fatty meat and orange juice with Cipro, and the relationship with Kate deepens. Amelia demonstrates her patriotism.

"Isn't so and so a snob?" he asks. "She won't even admit she liked Grease." Looking for an author who ponders the imponderable, expresses the inexpressible, describes the indescribable, and leaves no burning issue of American popular culture or world concern unexamined? Well, you'll find him in Mark Leyner. On this recording, Leyner, one of the most gifted and original young American writers around, reads 6 prose pieces from his first published book.