Tiny Tom, a British schoolboy, bursts with questions about life that his parents and teachers can't hope to answer: Why does everyone on earth fight all the time? Why do we exist? Why are people hairy? Why is grass green? Why are clouds? Why live only to die? Why die anyway?
When Tom asks questions like these, his teachers simply say, "Take it on faith." So, Tom decides to query a higher power instead and one who is fine being addressed simply as DOG (Dear Old God).
DOG grumbles at being awoken from the customary seventh-day nap but decides to answer the eight-year-old's questions. This metaphysical dialogue begins with young Tom and the divine being discussing the nature of human motivation, progress, faith, and the universe. Along the way, Tom receives two guided tours: one is of Up There by DOG, and the other is of Down There by the Devil. He also learns DOG's ultimate secret: Dear Old God is British!
Tom still struggles with some of his childhood questions in his later years. He reexamines them from the perspective of an older, perhaps wiser, person. But can the answers that nearly satisfied him as a child still make complete sense to him today?
Author Archer Swift offers a sharp, revealing look at the big questions of life in this alternately sweet and cheeky book.
About the Author: This is Archer Swift's third novel. His first, Bigpox, was written in response to the events of 9/11 in 2004. His second, The Joy of Frustratia, was a satire on British boarding school system. It reached the second round of Amazon's annual book competition in 2014.
Swift's latest book, Tiny Tom's Talks with DOG, is a wickedly funny take on religion, metaphysics, and the wisdom that may or may not come with age.
Swift has a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in business. His early career was diverse-in banking, mining, finance, government, and advertising. He also operated a publishing business for twenty-eight years and now serves as a business adviser and mentor.
