A Whisper can Rip your Guts out by Elliott Zaff is an interesting story filled with insights and lessons from one man’s journey towards finding meaning in life. The protagonist takes readers on a journey that explores how he transitioned from boyhood to manhood, and the role an intelligent professor played in his life. The narrative is inspired by real-life events and it is told in a first-person voice that is reflective and almost mellow. The story is filled with humor, at times grim, and is an honest exploration of reality; the social and political commentaries enrich the setting and augment the realism in the narrative.

Character development is well done and readers get a good idea of who the protagonist is. His mother left home in an effort to save the two youngest of the family and herself, and this also sent a powerful message to the protagonist that he needed to leave. In his quest for meaning, he meets Professor Donald and, in this book, he shares insights and wisdom from the professor, particularly his teachings on how to handle our emotions. It’s a “tool that is simple, effective and causes an internal awakening.”

Each chapter ends with tips on how to use what the author calls “Emotional Inversion” to trump emotions, attain deeper levels of emotional freedom, and evolve towards our better versions. In a somewhat humorous and startled tone, the narrator says: "… it took me years before I finally and actually heard what people were saying to me. But by then I had already accepted it as a nickname without really thinking about what it meant. Imagine being called an asshole for 5... 6... 7 years before you realize that the people saying it were not kidding.” The strength of this tale lies in its ability to integrate real-life lessons into the narrative. Most readers will undoubtedly identify with Elliott Zaff’s protagonist.

A Whisper can Rip your Guts out is one of the weirdest and longest book titles I have ever seen. This is understandable because this is one of the strangest books I have ever read. Having said that, I liked it. Elliott Zaff is not the best writer I have ever read but his book is as authentic as anything done by a master craftsman. This book is a tribute to a teacher. I can relate to that as I have had teachers who have influenced my life in a similar manner that Professor Donald influenced Elliott. Sometimes we forget just how lost we can feel as a young person trying to figure out life and the world we live in. If we are lucky, we find a mentor like Professor Donald to help us in our attempt to contribute to humanity and make something of ourselves.

A Whisper can Rip your Guts out is, in some ways, a quest. Elliott Zaff is looking for something. He is looking for answers. He is looking for meaning. He is looking for love. Professor Donald helps him to find at least some of the answers he seeks. He helps Elliott through the use of intense and perceptive dialogues. These interactions are the best part of the book. Travel is also an important element in this book. New places, new people, new experiences, and new chances to grow. This book isn’t for everyone but if you are looking for a unique voice with a keen, perceptive take on this reality, then read A Whisper can Rip your Guts out.

A Whisper can Rip your Guts out by Elliott Zaff documents one man’s quest for meaning and how an encounter with an eminent professor transforms the way he looks at life, understands and treats himself, and those around him. Although this is a realistic novel, there are strong hints that it could be the retelling of a life, because it is true to life and the intimate tone is so powerful and convincing. The narrator has had his share of suffering and pain growing up in Canada, until the moment he decides to make a fresh start in the US. In this adventure he meets Professor Donald, a man of intelligence and gifted with a rare sense of humanity. He will drink from the wellsprings of knowledge from this professor and get so many lessons on life.

The themes of family, friendship, personal growth, and the meaning of life are amongst those treated in this narrative. Readers will want to follow the dynamics of the relationship between teacher and student. The author writes: “Professor Donald often took into his care alienated and discarded individuals of our society and cared for them like an extended communal family. He always helped the wandering, lost and stranded people.” The professor’s doctrine of “Emotional Inversion” is a powerful tool to trump personal emotions and allow those emotions to guide one towards one’s purpose. Elliott Zaff has a unique narrative voice and the writing unearths deep spiritual, philosophical, and psychological truths. This novel asks questions that will challenge readers to rethink the way they live their lives and answer the question: “Why am I here?” While this novel features interesting characters and a delightful lyrical narrative style, it is also a thought-provoking book that asks serious questions about life.