Smart and Funny, the Underlying Search for Meaning is Never Lost THE NEXT STEP is the story of a man coming to terms with his upended life. As a boy, CB wanted to join the circus. He loved the music of the calliope and marveled at the daring of the human cannonball. But now, self-realization has produced paralysis followed by grand schemes and magical thinking: messianic urges brought to life through the wonders of raw talent, teleporting and FedEx. CB's personal journey takes him from the left field bleachers of Ebbets Field to Venice, the Holy Land, even to the casinos of Las Vegas. In the process, he reinvents himself and saves the world. Praise for The Next Step "Koppel's humble shipping clerk delivers magic, heartache, laughter, tragedy and wonder to your doorstep at the speed of imagination. A spellbinding journey." -Jonathan Freedman, Recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Journalism "You do not need to leave your favorite reading chair to take The Next Step's giant imaginative leap into the ecstasies of self-creation and a man's journey to squeeze new meaning out of life. When all seems to be lost, this book will sweep you off your feet." -Tom Folsom, The New York Times Bestselling author of The Mad Ones www.nextstepthenovel.com