An exuberant, acidic satire of modern society and celebrity culture by a renowned author at the height of his powers. Young Desmond Pepperdine desires nothing more than books to read and a girl to love. Unfortunately for him, he's the ward of his uncle, Lionel Asbo (self-named after England's infamous Anti-Social Behaviour Orders), a terrifying yet oddly principled thug who's determined to teach him the joys of pit-bulls (fed with lots of Tabasco sauce), internet porn, and all manner of more serious criminality. But just as Desmond begins to lead a gentler, healthier life, Lionel wins over a hundred million in the lottery.