Books where the main character slowly comes to terms that his life isn’t going to be as special as he once dreamt.

I know “Of Human Bondage” deals with a similar theme, where the main character slowly comes to be content with his lot.

I’d like to read a book about ambition and career, not love or family. And the character slowly coming to realise he isn’t going to be as successful as he once would dream he’d end up being.