POTSDAM — Author Stewart O'Nan didn't realize when he agreed to be Clarkson University's convocation speaker that the college's motto would turn out to describe perfectly the main character in his latest novel.

"'A Workman That Needeth Not to be Ashamed.' That's Manny," he said.

A former engineer, Mr. O'Nan has earned acclaim for turning his lucid eye on America's overlooked edges.

His most recent book, "Last Night at the Lobster," depicts restaurant manager Manny DeLeon leading his ill-fated crew through a quixotic last shift at a closing Red Lobster in New Britain, Conn.

Clarkson's entire freshman class read and discussed the novel as part of their orientation activities last week.

"It's about work, responsibility and giving your best in whatever job you have, even if you don't always love it," Mr. O'Nan said. "A lot of people that come out of Clarkson end up having a business or owning a business. This is the story of an employee."

The story is told from Manny's point of view, as he ticks off task after task — even savoring some of them — in his last shift at the Lobster before being transferred to a nearby Olive Garden.

"This is a world that is common to literally millions of Americans, but it's not shown that much, except comically. I wanted to flip that on its head and take this utterly seriously," said Mr. O'Nan, who has been called "the bard of the working class."

College spokesman Michael P. Griffin led one of the orientation discussions about the novel. He said most students saw the corporate environment setting as "business as usual."

Mr. O'Nan said two first-year Clarkson students who used to work for Red Lobster found Manny's character familiar.

"They said, 'We've seen this guy before. He's too sold out,'" the author said. "My books are like Rorschach blots. One person loves it, another one hates it. There's a gray area, so you bring a lot of your own experience to it."

The Pittsburgh native spoke with professors and visited several classes Monday, with a little free time to browse the shelves at the Birch Bark Bookstore above Evans & White Hardware in downtown Potsdam before he delivered the convocation speech.

"I've seen a lot of the economic bad times of the Northeast. We've been really beaten upon compared to other parts of the country. This book just reminds you that there are people working these jobs," Mr. O'Nan said.

To Clarkson University's Class of 2012, the author took a cue from the college's motto, telling them to always "have respect for the work you do."

A former test engineer for Grumman Aerospace, Mr. O'Nan has written a number of books, including "Snow Angels," which was recently turned into a movie with Kate Beckinsale, and "Faithful," a nonfiction piece he penned with Steven King about the 2004 Boston Red Sox season.