I recount my turbulent upbringing in a dysfunctional family marked by my father's alcoholism and abuse, my mother's fragile mental state, and my brother's schizophrenia. I navigate a challenging childhood, punctuated by unsettling experiences and a constant struggle for stability and self-discovery, ultimately finding solace in unexpected friendships and resilience.

My early memories of feeling unwanted and my parents' volatile relationship.
Experiences with my extended family reveal hidden dysfunction and secrets.
My rebellious adolescence, marked by drug use, dropping out of school, and a search for belonging.
My brief time in the Army, ending with a medical discharge, and my return home.

The story primarily takes place in working-class neighborhoods in New York and New Jersey during the 1960s and 1970s. The environment is characterized by a sense of instability and unease, reflecting my family's internal struggles. The settings include cramped homes, the local bar, the race track, and later, an Army base in South Carolina. These locations reflect the various stages of my life and the challenges I face.

I believe that we have control over our circumstances as adults, but as children we do not. As children, our surroundings, environment, and authority figures greatly impact who we become as adults. These factors include our feelings, limitations, living conditions, jobs, financial status, and social connections.

I question whether we are predestined to live our lives in a
certain way, limited to a pre-planned fate that we cannot change
or alter. I question whether our circumstances as children
seal our fate, leading us in a direction we have no control over.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

ThriftBooks is a fully independent seller of used books, having sold more than 160 million used and new books since we started in 2003. Each quality used book is sorted, graded, shelved and shipped by hand by our team of dedicated employees in our seven warehouses across the US. We have the best selection of books, in the right condition and format, at everyday low prices. We also have a dedicated, US-based Customer Service team, ranked in the top three by Newsweek for Best Customer Service in 2018 and 2019, so you can shop with confidence. We support and invest in our employees, appreciate and value our customers, and truly believe in the power of the written word to educate, energize, and engage readers of all ages and interests.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Thrift Books Global LLC
18300 Cascade Ave S, Seattle, WA, 98188, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We guarantee each book that we send you. If you have any problems, please contact
our dedicated customer service department. They will do everything possible to
ensure you are happy with your order.

Shipping Terms

All domestic Standard shipments are distributed from our warehouses by OSM, then handed off to the USPS for final delivery.

2-Day Shipping is delivered by FedEx, which does not deliver to PO boxes.

International shipments are tendered to the local postal service in the destination country for final delivery – We do not use courier services for international deliveries.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	4 to 8 business days	4 to 8 business days
First item	US$ 0.00	US$ 0.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.