Like his acclaimed debut novel, , which was shortlisted for the Man Booker prize, Stephen Kelman's is astonishingly moving in its heartbreak and humour. It is largely the story of a middle-aged Indian, Bibhuti Bhushan Nayak (more usually known as BB) who has done his best to climb out of poverty by taking on extreme sports and keeping in close touch with the almighty. He longs for fame so that he can help his countrymen and women. He has gathered world records for his feats, including most kicks to the groin in a set time. One can't imagine many contestants volunteering to break this record.

He gained a Guinness endorsement - and his fellow competitors' respect - for his record-breaking 133 palm push-ups in a minute. Bibhuti is magnanimous: "I am a firm believer that the goodwill of others when blended with the desire of the almighty makes the most potent mix. When a person drinks from this source he truly becomes unbreakable. I am the living proof of this." Bibhuti believes he can cure himself in days of his many injuries, such as those caused by having scores of bicycles run over his stomach. His worldview is both beguiling and bonkers.

Not surprisingly, Bibhuti's wife "has no understanding of such things". There is something universal in Bibhuti's innocent striving, which clutches at the heart. (About 50 pages into this enchanting book, I discovered that it is based on a true story and Bibhuti is a real man. He achieved minor fame in England when the television comic, Paul Merton, while making a documentary on Indian byways, was persuaded to kick the brave man in the balls, as the script has it. This ritual was almost his calling card.)

Now Bibhuti is on the trail of new endeavours. One of these is for someone to break as many baseball bats as possible on his body in a specified time. The Indian branch of the Guinness Book of Records is not keen to endorse this attempt, as it is too dangerous. His wife is distraught, believing he could be seriously injured. Now the story becomes darker. An Englishman called John Lock - soon to die of cancer - comes to India to drink of Bibhuti's wisdom. He has left his wife behind, after pretending he has committed suicide.