This book is about a man whose life, as he has always known it, is about to change forever. Schmidt says he expects all lives to end badly. Older people today are generally healthier and more vigorous than they were in previous generations. With the additional promise of greater life expectancy, there exist the probabilities of new romances and sexual encounters. Give some examples of Jon Riker's behavior that infuriate Schmidt.
Money seems to be a recurring theme throughout the book.
Schmidt is preoccupied with working out numbers so he can maintain his style of living. While Schmidt and Mary never discussed money in Charlotte's presence, there were many veiled references to it. Begley writes about a very closed, privileged society of wealthy people. The Bridgehampton property acts to create an enormous rift between Schmidt and Charlotte. Schmidt is keenly observant and highly intelligent, yet he is unable to understand the reasons for his problems with Charlotte.