The Unspectacular Rise and Fall of Irwin Lipsted is the first story in a collection of nine short stories. They all deal with seemingly ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Irwin Lipsted, for instance, is a young man from a working class background. He forms a kind of relationship with a beautiful, somewhat older, widow. She wants a long term relationship with him - but, after certain strange things occur, he is not so sure. Maybe he would be happier returning to his roots...Peter Fleurmat discovers a mathematical formula that predicts the number that will come up on a roulette wheel. How will he use this formula to amass his fortune before he is banned from every casino in the country? Sit back, relax, read and find out.