Slow Down is wickedly good fun. Goldberg skillfully weaves together elements of mystery, social satire and futurism into a wholly original thriller that contradicts its title by racing forward into new territory while remaining thoroughly entertaining with every escalating twist.Goldberg paints unsparing portraits of his superficially-glamorous anti-heroes, and convincingly constructs the book's universe with detailed descriptions of the peculiar idiosyncrasies of its exclusive milieu.These privileged, neurotic, maniacally-driven Manhattanites are difficult to love, but that's fine because they do not love themselves, either. Goldberg is craftily criticising rather than glorifying these despicable people. Barreling through their cutthroat, FOMO, keeping-up-with-the-Joneses lives with them is a guilty pleasure. I especially enjoyed the little sister character, Cassie. Her behaviour is vile, yet she provides a window into the genuine, uncorrupted sliver that remains in narrator Noah's heart of hearts.Dominick the domineering filmmaker seems especially realistic--- a difficult task for an author to pull off when the character indulges in such outlandish exploits. Goldberg really captures the tightrope essence of the dynamic between well-funded self-proclaimed geniuses of the arts and their beleaguered calculating underlings.The futuristic elements are refreshingly original, oddly plausible, and remind me of a snappy homage to William T. Vollmann. I'm definitely tempted to walk into a bar and order a Pennytini with an infused coin.This novel is highly cinematic. I can imagine it adapted into a very stylish dark film that would also be both subversive and amusing.The theme of unchecked, relentless, self-destructive ambition is very timely. Slow Down explores this in a vivid, escalating, entertaining roller-coaster-ride of a book.