Book,
story by
W. Somerset Maugham. Larry, a well-off youth from
Chicago, becomes a
medic in
WWI and discovers
war is hell. Because of this experience, he forgoes his fortune and works as a
miner,
fishmonger, etc. and then seeks
wisdom.
The movie starring Bill Murray is pretty good, with Murray's usual good humor tempered by the relatively serious plot, in which he tries to help an old friend with an alcohol problem.