Reviews

"A most impressive achievement by a highly talented writer ... an emotionally powerful memoir that spans nearly a century and several continents. Riveting and rich in detail with passages that evoke Hemingway and Maugham .... You come away from this book with gratitude to the author for having written it and respect for a life well lived."-Robert Whiting, author of Tokyo Junkie, Tokyo Underworld, and You Gotta Have Wa "Robert Norris's deeply personal story of finding his conscience when ordered to Vietnam is told here with direct, powerful prose. An important, fascinating read."-David Zeiger, documentary filmmaker, director of Sir, No Sir "A wide-ranging, fascinating ramble of a tale that has you rooting for the characters every step of the way .... [It] invites you to reflect on American culture, family, duty, home, and what it means to live a full life."-Rosa del Duca, author of Breaking Cadence: One Woman's War Against the War "A sweeping epic of a memoir ... a snapshot of a significant slice of history. Norris writes his vast narrative with clarity and thoroughness."-Alan Samson, retired journalist and author of Me. And me now: A 1970s' Kiwi Hippie Trail Adventure "Heartfelt and ever-alive, inspired by a constant wonder with all the world can offer."-Sharif Gemie, co-author of The Hippie Trail: A History "A bumpy, coming-of-age tale set in the logging country of the Pacific Northwest ... transforms an alienated young man into an expat and ultimately an emeritus professor in Japan. Robert W. Norris crafts the stages of this extraordinary journey in a narrative style that is both graceful and seamless."-Michael Uhl, author of Vietnam Awakening and The War I Survived was Vietnam