Eva Pasco

Goodreads: 5-Stars

August 1, 2025


A Pragmatic Risk Taker

From the age of seventeen, Larry Lazar takes the bull by the horn in ‘Less than Normal,’ a coming-of-age novel by Jack Kregas. Much more than a story about a young man and his exploits with women, it’s about a young man gaining confidence to become a self-made financial success honed from pragmatic risk taking. Be it the proliferation of weed, coffee farming, or money laundering, Larry has a head on his shoulders from savvy gained by reading novels about the mafia, gangsters, hustlers, and those who fought adversity alone.

‘Less than Normal’ opens the floodgate of emotions for the reader who lives through a couple of Larry’s intense romantic relationships, some of which wither on the vine due to life’s hairpin turns. An adventure capitalist who gets an adrenaline rush from living on the edge, Larry always exercises caution when treading potentially dangerous situations.

The author provides just enough character background on each of the key players to keep the story real and riveting as it traverses around the globe, following in the footsteps of a young man wise beyond his years, living by a code of ethics which suits his lifestyle despite encountering a close call.

A must-read story led by Larry’s self-gratifying approach to life, laced with fast-paced adventure.