Eat, Drink, Whore, Gamble, Smoke: The Lazy, Greedy, Slick Oil Slick

Jian Lan Chan Hua You

This is a work that portrays the many sides of human nature. “Cunning” represents craftiness and calculation. The book depicts people steeped in schemes and intrigues, showing how they ply their tricks on life’s stage and stop at nothing to achieve their goals. “Lazy” describes a passive, lethargic state. Here, we meet characters whose souls have been consumed by laziness. They shirk responsibility and are always looking for ways to get something for nothing, drifting aimlessly through a world of idleness.

“Greedy” means more than simply craving food. It also refers to excessive desire for material things and other pleasures. These gluttonous people lack restraint, and in trying to satisfy their appetites, they may become entangled in all kinds of trouble. “Slick” means smooth-talking and devious. Slick operators always find clever ways to avoid difficulty and handle everything with polished tact. In their dealings with others and in business, they wield their slickness like a blade to line their own pockets.

“Oily” describes an all-around sleazy quality, including smooth talk and affected speech. Characters possessing these traits of cunning, laziness, greed, slickness, and oiliness collide and become entangled throughout the story. Through a series of tales, this book examines these negative aspects of human nature in depth, showing readers its complexity and, to some extent, warning them to look at themselves and avoid being consumed by such flaws.