Leonard and Paul are the very best of friends. While Leonard writes children's encyclopedias as a ghostwriter, Paul works as a temporary postman. The lives of the two run in calm, well-ordered paths - until something happens to each of them that sets a whole series of changes in motion. This highly acclaimed debut novel focuses on those people who are often overlooked in everyday life. Leonard and Paul do not participate in the noise of the world, but are characterized by qualities that are increasingly rare: friendliness, gentleness and modesty. A ravishingly charming read full of humour, which emphatically demonstrates how enriching it can be to move on the side roads of life.