In the introduction Dowd give the reader a taste of his folksy sense of humor, and a glimpse of his political leanings.
He begins in chapter one, with briefly mentioning his, and his father and mother's birth. He quickly moves on to the beginning of the story of his parents. Where they met, Their unlikely marriage, and unusual wedding, his own conception and the miracle of his birth, a brief description of his infancy, and his first taste of bananas, half a dozen of them. He presents to the reader a heart rendering tale of a lonesome and abused childhood.
He goes on to tell of his first experience with school - kindergarten, Catholic Nuns, and a, overly protective mother, the first of eight schools which he attended, visits to the Zoo, interests in animals and history.
He continues with a synopsis of the first eight tomes he and his mother moved, School problems, school friends, black acquaintances, religion and poems on "Brotherhood".
Chapter four opens with a treatise on poets and French kings and conquers. It moves on to God and religion, and black ladies, and sums up the chapter with a poem aptly entitled "Reminiscences."
Chapter five presents a tragic tale of broken promises a struggle to stay in school, betrayal, treachery, anger, understanding, and forgiveness. The tragedy unfolds into an end of formal education and advancement into reading the Harvard Classics, Emerson, Poe, Bryant and Dickens, a shrinking world seven "C's" and culminates with a brief mention of true Muslims.
Chapter seven gives the reader a concise, but thorough thesis on the theory of Democratic Government, and a short discourse on localized security protection.
Chapter eight briefly describes his mothers' birthplace, and highlights of the history that unfolds there. He continues with, commentary on her immediate family. (A troubled group)
He continues in the next chapter with his father's birth in Ireland, immigrating to America, a proud family torn asunder, fortunes lost, and Baltimore the beautiful. "Charm City".
Chapter ten is a tale of a vacation on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. A wicked plot, a plea for help, a stinking answer, home again, expulsion and imminent return.
He moves form there to a tale of child abuse, attempted seduction and fear of a fanny.
Chapter twelve portrays seven encounters with police, then reminds the reader that police are people, just like me and you.
The story continues with a move to a town in northwest Pennsylvania, expectations that went unfulfilled, short lived abject poverty, prayer of desperation, miraculous answer, and a man called. "Papa Shapiro." An angel on earth. The incredible story of a man who would not be denied, and who could not be forgotten.
The story ends with a tale of life in the Marine Corps, and ends with the saga of a pot of soup.