The second (and less interesting) half of the book chronicles Walt’s life as a grown up first as a big shot gangster and then as the usual everyman with ups and downs. It is only as an old man that he is finally able to come to terms with his failure and successes as a human being and reflect on his childhood. I found the very last section very moving especially Walt’s last thoughts on what humans are capable of. I suppose his flight is a metaphor for the height of human achievements, learning a skill to such a high ability that you transcend the mundane and it becomes sublime and enlightening, what it is like to lose that ability – that brilliance and realise that you are just an average Joe like everyone else, but how there is always a chance, however slim, to regain it if you believe. (less)