Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Play It As It Lays summary
Brief summary
Play It As It Lays is a novel by Joan Didion that explores the dark underbelly of 1960s Hollywood. It delves into themes of existentialism, identity, and the pursuit of meaning in a world that often feels empty and fragmented.
Table of Contents
Play It As It Lays
Summary of key ideas
Unraveling Existential Crisis
Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion opens with Maria Wyeth, a distressed former actress in her early 30s, living in a psychiatric institution. The story that unfolds comprises interlinking flashbacks, delving into Maria's earlier life in Hollywood, which is disjointed and ravaged by a deep sense of meaninglessness and dread.
Maria's disjointed narrative mirrors her fragmented life. She meanders aimlessly through her days, driving the freeways of Los Angeles, attending parties, encountering people, and vacillating between her ex-husband Carter and lover Les. Her life feels empty, devoid of purpose, exemplifying the existential crisis of a young woman grappling with societal expectations.
Disintegration of a Family
Centred around the character of Maria, we get to know about her failed marriage with Carter Lang, a cold and ambitious Hollywood director. Maria's world is further shattered when her 4-year-old daughter, Kate, is diagnosed with an undisclosed illness, resulting in her confinement to a mental institution. Maria's failure to cope with Kate's condition becomes the nucleus of the disintegration of her family.
The couple's inability to reconcile their differences and Maria's persistent denial of Kate's diagnosis lead to her divorce from Carter. Maria, grappling with her mental health, spirals into self-destruction, which sends shockwaves through her fraught relationships with others around her.
Resilience amidst Despair
The capture of Maria's ordeal allows Didion to explore broader themes of despair, emptiness, and disconnection in contemporary life. Yet, within this bleak narrative, Maria emerges as a resilient figure. Despite her desperate circumstances, she continues to 'play it as it lays,' accepting her life situation, however dire it might be.
This resilience, however, does not always translate into triumph. After a series of disastrous events, including an unwanted pregnancy and self-induced abortion, Maria's sense of disarray intensifies, leading her to a breakdown and eventual institutionalization.
Confronting Reality
The story concludes with Maria in a mental institution, the stark reality of her life laid bare. She is left with a profound knowledge of her own despair, and a renewed awareness of the frivolity and superficiality of her past life. Maria's story ends on an ambiguously hopeful note, she expressed a desire to return to the world, to see her daughter again, despite her sordid past and bleak future.
In conclusion, Play It As It Lays is a hard-hitting exploration of existential despair, critique of the shallow world of Hollywood, and elaboration of the fragility of relationships. The novel is about a woman's struggle with mental health, her painful journey through a meaningless world, and her eventual confrontation with her reality.
How do we create content on this page?
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Play It As It Lays about?
"Play It As It Lays" is a novel by Joan Didion that delves into the life of Maria Wyeth, a troubled actress navigating the complexities of Hollywood and her own personal struggles. Set in the 1960s, the book explores themes of existentialism, alienation, and the search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. With its fragmented narrative and raw portrayal of human emotions, it offers a thought-provoking reflection on the nature of reality and the choices we make.
Play It As It Lays Review
Play It As It Lays (1970) is a thought-provoking novel that explores the dark side of Hollywood and the human condition. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers a raw and unflinching portrayal of the glamour and despair of Hollywood, revealing the emptiness behind the glitz and glamour.
- The book delves into the protagonist's internal struggles and existential questions, shedding light on the complexities of identity and purpose.
- With its sharp and concise prose, Didion captures the essence of 1970s America, evoking a powerful sense of time and place.
Who should read Play It As It Lays?
- Individuals exploring the complexities of human existence and the existential angst that comes with it
- Readers searching for a thought-provoking and introspective literary experience
- Those interested in examining the dark side of Hollywood and the pursuit of fame and success
Categories with Play It As It Lays
Book summaries like Play It As It Lays
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Play It As It Lays FAQs
What is the main message of Play It As It Lays?
The main message of Play It As It Lays explores the emptiness and disillusionment of the American Dream.
How long does it take to read Play It As It Lays?
The reading time for Play It As It Lays varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Play It As It Lays a good book? Is it worth reading?
Play It As It Lays is worth reading for its thought-provoking exploration of existential themes and beautiful prose.
Who is the author of Play It As It Lays?
Joan Didion is the author of Play It As It Lays.
What to read after Play It As It Lays?
If you're wondering what to read next after Play It As It Lays, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson
- The Art Of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau
- A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink
- Theory U by C. Otto Scharmer
- The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman
- The Innovator ’s Dilemma# by Clayton M. Christensen
- The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
- Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace
- Think Like a Freak by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
- The Laws of Simplicity by John Maeda