---
product_id: 18708796
title: "Focus"
price: "€ 34.13"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
url: https://www.desertcart.gr/products/18708796-focus
store_origin: GR
region: Greece
---

# Focus

**Price:** € 34.13
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** Focus
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## Description

Focus [Miller, Arthur] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Focus

Review: Timeless, thought-provoking piece - Although written in the 1940s, and dealing with a man mistaken for being Jewish when he has to wear glasses, you could transport the themes to any era and almost any ethnic group. The book demonstrates how mistaken ethnic identity affects the lead character Newman, in terms of how the world perceives him, how his relationships even with those who know he is not Jewish are affected, and how he perceives himself and his own prejudices. As the book ends inconclusively, you must fill in your own blanks as to what Newman's future will bring. A fascinating novel from one of our great playwrights.
Review: A Brave Attack on American Antisemitism - I have long known of Arthur Miller's writing through his plays - "Death of a Salesman," "The Crucible." Little did I know of the punch of his fiction writing. "Focus" is a small jewel - and by far his most controversial work. In this compact novel he attacks the antisemitism that boiled beneath the surface in America during World War II. Lawrence Newman lives in Queens and commutes to his safe job in Manhattan working for The Corporation. He is a nondescript personnel officer. In this corporation, Jews need not apply, but what is that to Newman? He is safe and secure. Then his world slides out of focus. Too vain to be willing to get glasses as his eyesight deteriorates, he tries to hide his myopia. Unfortunately, he hired a woman who clearly looked Jewish, but his eyesight was too poor to pick up on the stereotype. He is reprimanded by his boss. The eyeglasses he finally gets accentuate his facial features in such a way that many people assume he is Jewish. He is asked to move to an office where he will be less visible, and he resigns in protest. Meanwhile, back in his gentile neighborhood, changes are taking place. A Mr. Finkelstein has moved in and opened a candy store. A group of vigilantes make sure that Finkelstein - and the presumptive Jew, Newman - are made to feel uncomfortable. Throughout the ordeal,Newman's own values and assumptions are shaken to the core as he confronts racists neighbors and his own wife. Miller captures the anguish of Newman in a way that reminds me of the memoir, "Black Like Me." As he experiences what it feels like to be marginalized, he is forced to reassess every part of his life and his thoughts.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,264,280 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #34,891 in Literary Fiction (Books) #50,769 in American Literature (Books) #187,634 in Genre Literature & Fiction |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (75) |
| Dimensions  | 7.56 x 5.23 x 0.56 inches |
| Edition  | Reissue |
| Grade level  | 12 and up |
| ISBN-10  | 0142000426 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0142000427 |
| Item Weight  | 6.8 ounces |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 240 pages |
| Publication date  | September 1, 2001 |
| Publisher  | Penguin Publishing Group |
| Reading age  | 18 years and up |

## Images

![Focus - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61hg4RPgXQL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Timeless, thought-provoking piece
*by N***I on November 6, 2012*

Although written in the 1940s, and dealing with a man mistaken for being Jewish when he has to wear glasses, you could transport the themes to any era and almost any ethnic group. The book demonstrates how mistaken ethnic identity affects the lead character Newman, in terms of how the world perceives him, how his relationships even with those who know he is not Jewish are affected, and how he perceives himself and his own prejudices. As the book ends inconclusively, you must fill in your own blanks as to what Newman's future will bring. A fascinating novel from one of our great playwrights.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Brave Attack on American Antisemitism
*by A***E on June 5, 2012*

I have long known of Arthur Miller's writing through his plays - "Death of a Salesman," "The Crucible." Little did I know of the punch of his fiction writing. "Focus" is a small jewel - and by far his most controversial work. In this compact novel he attacks the antisemitism that boiled beneath the surface in America during World War II. Lawrence Newman lives in Queens and commutes to his safe job in Manhattan working for The Corporation. He is a nondescript personnel officer. In this corporation, Jews need not apply, but what is that to Newman? He is safe and secure. Then his world slides out of focus. Too vain to be willing to get glasses as his eyesight deteriorates, he tries to hide his myopia. Unfortunately, he hired a woman who clearly looked Jewish, but his eyesight was too poor to pick up on the stereotype. He is reprimanded by his boss. The eyeglasses he finally gets accentuate his facial features in such a way that many people assume he is Jewish. He is asked to move to an office where he will be less visible, and he resigns in protest. Meanwhile, back in his gentile neighborhood, changes are taking place. A Mr. Finkelstein has moved in and opened a candy store. A group of vigilantes make sure that Finkelstein - and the presumptive Jew, Newman - are made to feel uncomfortable. Throughout the ordeal,Newman's own values and assumptions are shaken to the core as he confronts racists neighbors and his own wife. Miller captures the anguish of Newman in a way that reminds me of the memoir, "Black Like Me." As he experiences what it feels like to be marginalized, he is forced to reassess every part of his life and his thoughts.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Focus on Anti-Semitism
*by J***K on June 20, 2004*

Before coming across this book, I was not aware of the prejudice that faced Jews in America during World War II and the years before the war. The idea of the book is an interesting concept. Lawrence Newman is mistaken for a Jew because of his glasses. Even though he is actually a Gentile, he endures anti-semitic prejudice. The story has two serious flaws that take away from the overall story. Lawrence's wife, Gertrude, is foul and annoying women. Arthur Miller seems to create most of his female leads with great flaws. I desperately wanted Lawrence to just tell her to shut up. The other flaw is the passive nature of Lawrence. I wanted him to stand up for himself. The issue in the story is not so much anti-semitism as it is Lawrence's extremely passive nature. It is almost predictable that he does not get angry enough to strike back until after he gets beat up and there is nobody around. The flaws written into the characters take away from the serious issue addressed in the story. While Miller is to be commended for raising the issue, he failed to make a serious statement about it. In other words, it lacks focus. The book claims to be Miller's most controversial work, but it never fully attacks the issue. Finkelstein, an actual Jew, is most compelling character because he is real and has something to say. He fought back, making him the only character that the reader can identify with. Certainly this is not Miller's best work. Death of a Saleman is one of my favorites stories. This story is solid, but fails to meet expectations.

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*Product available on Desertcart Greece*
*Store origin: GR*
*Last updated: 2026-02-23*