Book

I'm reading Brad Listi's first novel Attention. Deficit. Disorder.

I'm reading it because it concludes at Burning Man's Costco Wholesale Soulmate Trading Outlet. Where I worked in customer service for two years. Probably the two Listi attended (assuming he did).

I'm only 100 pages in so it is unfair to judge but...

This book is remarkably similar to Dave Eggers' You Shall Know Our Velocity.
In Egger's book a 23-24 yr old from Fort Collins, Colorado loses a close friend, comes into $80,000 the easy way and sets out around the world to do good by giving the money away and find meaning in life (and death). He must wrap up his globe trot in time to make it to a friend's wedding in Mexico.

In Listi's novel a 22-23 yr old from Boulder, Colorado loses an ex-girlfriend, comes into $45,000 the easy way and sets out for a friend's wedding in Mexico. This begins a globe hopping trip to find meaning in life (and I assume death).

Both heroes encounter prostitues they give money to but do not sleep with, hoping to "save" them.

There are more similarities, I'll spare you. You have to feel bad for Listi. This must be coincidence. He had to have been writing simultaneously to and unaware of Eggers. Right?