What is the path to enlightenment? Biblical characters used to roam the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. Nietzsche's Zarathustra lived in a cave. Buddha shed all of his possessions. But how in the world could this be achieved now, in a time when deserts have sprouted into cities, caves are all in national parks and any child who can walk carries a cell phone? In The 33rd Year, Neal A. Yeager paints a picture of one man's difficult and unique philosophical quest--its rewards and its costs. This is a book about the search for... something.

Living in Los Angeles, a few million strangers have one thing in common: they want to make it in the entertainment business. From actors to indie film types, from rock & rollers to models -- they can all be found in L.A. pursuing their dreams, working their day jobs and rallying behind the cry of "I deserve to be famous, dammit "

With equal parts humor and empathy, Neal A. Yeager tells the story of four of these souls:

Sarah is a fantastic actress who, after 37 Hollywood auditions, hasn't landed even a small role. While absolutely killing it in those auditions...