Ambition is the driver that propels people forward in life, motivating and inspiring them to be successful, but blind ambition can also lead to one's demise, infecting anyone and everyone involved. In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' blind ambition is revealed as the main cause of the destruction of those around Macbeth and finally resulting in his own destruction. Yet this problematic human characteristic leading to possibly destructive unintended consequences has survived and is the theme of this book.
An underlying theme throughout is the choices we make in life. We cannot choose our 'blood family' but we can choose the people with whom we want to share our lives as family. However, we must be alert to the potential impacts and conflicts in society, and especially when 'blood family' and family collide, each seeking priority.
Richard and Jim built a significant media advertising agency blindly ambitious to the destructive influences on the wife and young son of Richard leading to divorce and dislocation from his son. Jim suffers a serious heart attack causing both to take stock of their lives, sell the business and move to the country to rebuild their lives. Richard builds the home of his dreams, populates it with people he considers family. Life starts to look good. Richard and Jim even consider the occasional commission. But the victims of their blind ambition in the form of his now adult wayward son and vengeful mother seek opportunity to heap revenge on Richard.
