An average man with an average American wife & children experiences an unusual disaster to his family & community which is covered up by (presumably) the government.

I love DeLillo's style. There are some overtly 80's things about this book (low-fat diets and leg warmers, to name a couple), but the idea is totally universal. In a time when threats of bioterrorism and government conspiracy seem to be endlessly circling, DeLillo's commentary on society is a useful, and thoroughly enjoyable, read.