"This searching, humane novel debut contemplates God, the cosmos, and humanity's place in it all ... thoughtfulness powers the novel, which unfolds in clear, engaging, at times playful prose... Wald proves an engaging, empathetic storyteller." -Booklife Review by Publishers Weekly

Four friends' worlds collide at Lake Paradise in a search for answers to life's biggest questions.

Jacob Hart has always been convinced there is an answer to any problem. That belief propelled him to a successful engineering career at corporate giant, GoldOrb Diversified. But following an abrupt retirement and his wife's untimely death, Jacob suffers an existential crisis. The man who once believed that anything could be solved becomes all consumed with uncovering the role of a higher power in his seemingly crumbling world. Plagued with prophetic visions, he travels to Lake Paradise in pursuit of his coveted answer to life's mysteries.

Joined in his quest by a kind Rabbi who has lost his faith, an unruly Ivy League professor, and the powerful CEO of GoldOrb, Jacob enters into a philosophical pursuit for the ages. But the troubles of the real world follow the friends to paradise, and soon they are ensnared in a high stakes political scandal that threatens to destroy everything.

The Overexamined Life of Jacob Hart tests the bonds of friendship, family, and country and infuses existential questions from time immemorial with modernity, intrigue, and sheer excitement.

"Stellar. This may be Jerry Wald's first novel, but it's clear that he has been working on his craft for many years. The Overexamined Life of Jacob Hart is a thought-provoking, heartfelt, and inspirational story told with depth, nuance, and emotion. Jacob Hart is a complex and compassionate soul who is worth rooting for. We will be hearing more from this talented author. Highly recommended." -Sheldon Siegel, New York Times best selling author of Special Circumstances

"An outstanding debut... Five-plus stars to The Overexamined Life of Jacob Hart. It's a literary triumph for those seeking a read with both substance and uncommon depth. We can't recommend it highly enough." -Don Sloan, Publishers Daily Reviews

"Harmony and clarity are found as four men pursue happiness in tandem in this endearing" [and] "soulful novel." -Foreword/Clarion Review

"Delightful, compelling, and thought-provokingly realistic." --Midwest Book Review