"The Humbling" ("Contempt") is a novel by the famous American writer Philip Roth. The book tells about the life and crisis of the actor Simon Axel, who lost his understanding of his profession and the meaning of his existence. Simon Axel experiences a career slump, losing confidence in himself and his acting abilities. He is at a distance from the world, in solitude and loss, looking for an answer to the question of the meaning of life and art. Philip Roth's novel "Contempt" is a subtle psychological study of the hero's inner world, his fears, ambitions and disappointments, full of deep irony and frankness.