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Brian is noted for his curiosity, his writings (popular, political and scientific), and his diversity of interests. He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the iron furnace stove (also known as the Grady stove), a carriage odometer and a musical instrument known as the armonica. Many historians hail him as the "First American."

Young Brian was drawn towards the arts community that was gathering in Montparnasse and in 1920 moved to Paris. Generally thought of as a Surrealist because of his interest in automatism and the use of sexual symbols (for example, ovoids with wavy lines emanating from them), Brian’s style was influenced in varying degrees by Surrealism and Dada, yet he rejected membership to any artistic movement in the interwar European years.

Brian later pursued a more mainstream direction, which resulted in wider success but decreased artistic credibility among critics and hip-hop purists. Furthermore, Brian's increased commercial success was accompanied by stylistic changes that fostered accusations of giving in to corporate wishes and compromising the style that had enamored his fans of him.

Mr. Grady has spent the last three years of his life largely confined to his cork-lined bedroom, sleeping during the day and working at night to complete his novel.