Memoirs of an Invisible Man

I love the detailed-oriented account of our invisible protagonist, Nick Halloway. Much of the book is written in a narrative style speaking to the reader. Being invisible is a lot more difficult than you might imagine. This book gives an apparently hyper accurate accounting of how ones life would utterly change due to this condition. One might think that author H.F. Saint himself was once invisible. Basically, Nick becomes totally invisible due to an accident at a research lab he was visiting. The book details how he copes and learns to live with his invisibility, all the while trying to evade capture by the US government who only wants to help him. Forget the *awful* Chevy Chase movie adaptation. Boy did they blow it. Read the fascinating book instead. I first read it in the 80s when it was published and Im reading it again now.

This book is unique. I wanted H.F. Saint to keep writing, but it turns out that he made so much money from this one book that he never had to work again! The story is remarkably inventive. (The book was made into a horrible Chevy Chase vehicle. Never watch it.) There is a little bit of science fiction that you have to buy in order to believe the rest of the plot. I dont usually like science fiction at all, but this book is so skillfully written that that plot twist never bothered me. It is essential to the story, which is so thrilling that you literally cant put it down. It becomes a cat-and-mouse chase of the highest order, set in the clubs of New York City. Some of the scenes are so vivid that you will remember them for many years. I first read it about twenty years ago, and I read it again every five years or so. I got the last copy (!) from Amazon last week, from a seller named Bettys Boutique, and I am really excited to start reading it again. Our first copy got lost somewhere in the ensuing two decades. I will not be a spoiler here. You deserve to experience every page of this book as a surprise, and as a gift to yourself. Enjoy!

I purchased this book because I was tired of having to check it out from the library every time I wanted to read it, which has been at least once a year for the last 3 years. This is an amazingly interesting and suspenseful book. Its hard to put my finger on exactly why I love it so much, but its a more modern version of what would happen to someone who, due to an explosion, becomes invisible, and is hunted by the government who want to use him as a test subject. And believe it or not, being invisible is not the best way to hide, which is what this book explores. Yes, they made a stupid silly goofy movie off of this, starring Chevy Chase, which is nothing at all like the book, which is not a comedy at all. Really, folks, give this book a try. Its worth it.

I read this book years ago and hadn’t stopped thinking about it so bought my own copy. It’s intriguing to think about the main character being invisible, running from the government but the food he eats isn’t invisible. So many details I’d have never thought about.

It says something about a book when practically every review on Amazon is one in which the reviewer has nothing but good things to say about it. I read this book for the first time many years ago - probably not too long after it first came out (in 1987). Since that time Ive re-read it numerous times, Ive recommended it to relatives and friends, and every couple of years when I want to relax and enjoy a light read, I pull it down from the bookshelf. and enjoy it once again. Here is the thing about this book. There have been quite a few novels written about invisibility, including of course classics such as

I re-read this book every few years and laugh as hard at each new reading as I did the first one. It is one of my all-time favorites. Nick is an intelligent, albeit fun-loving guy selfishly moving through life for his own enjoyment. And that doesnt seem to change even once he is accidentally turned invisible. You cant help but like him and wish him success in his determination not to become a lab rat. I love Nick and have even grown fond of the hapless bad guys chasing him. I lost my original book in a move (or maybe I loaned it out...just not sure) and when the urge to read it hit me, I had to order a new one. I did not like receiving a copy with the Chevy Chase movie on the cover as I consider that movie to be a total ruination of an amazing book. But despite the horrible cover it is still a super fun book. Read it ... dont question it...just allow yourself to be entertained...and dont be embarrassed when you laugh out loud!! Its that funny.

I own three editions and I still dream of owning it on Kindle. I have loved this book for ages, and I can’t understand why it doesn’t seem to be well known or widely appreciated. It’s so intelligent, both in its plot and it’s careful consideration of what invisibility would actually entail and what it would take to succeed in life in such a state etc…. One of my all-time favorite books, actually, and that’s really saying something. Clever, funny in parts… a bit dated just inevitably but more for cultural references etc than for any science issues, though certainly technology has come a long way since it’s writing. The biggest flaw - almost the only one, really - I kept thinking about while reading it was thermal imaging being sort of a major plot hole as he’s being hunted, but that’s a minor quibble. Honestly just a really well thought out book. Even the personality of the main character is exactly the sort of person who would be most likely to actually manage to succeed in that situation - not just skill-wise but personality-wise. I recommend this to everyone I can - and I still live in hope that eventually it’ll come to Kindle!!

This is one of the best books Ive read.

This is an involving and well written book. I have read it from cover to cover several times. I know people who dont love to read, but when Ive told them about it, they have all instantly loved it.

One of the most ingenious novels ever written. Memoirs is top 5 for me, Ive read it once every couple of years or so since its publication. So, yes, Ive read it at least a dozen times. Saint takes what seems like a tired premise and reinvents it through a terrific and likable main character opposite a wonderful and believable villain, while putting incredible thought and amazing cleverness into figuring out what it would actually be like to be invisible… basically, a hilarious nightmare. Its a shame the book has gone out of print. It should be a staple forever. Thankfully, there are many used copies bouncing around. If youve never experienced the pleasures of this book, which is extremely funny and intensely suspenseful, drop a buck and give it a try. Youll have the time of your life.