The author immigrated from Romania to the United States in 1902, when he was 8 years old. In this work, he looks back at growing up in New York City’s Lower East Side in an Orthodox Jewish family. Following Parker from his arrival at Ellis Island to his family’s struggles running a grocery store, readers are taken to a bygone era when attending high school was uncommon and eating in a restaurant was a novel experience for many. Parker worked various jobs before eventually attending dental school. In 1914, World War I broke out, and when the United States entered the fight, the author attempted to join the Medical Corps; he was instead drafted into the infantry. As Parker remembers, “I found the transition from civilian to military life to be quite a shock.” His experiences fighting in Europe proved to be harrowing as he endured grueling marches and frontline combat. Throughout the text are quotes from famous thinkers like Seneca; the author evinces a particular fondness for the 16th-century writer Montaigne. The narrative unfolds in a casual, conversational style. Parker relatably writes of bayonet training, “I, myself, hoped that I would never be put to the test as every fiber of my being recoiled at the very thought of using a bayonet on a human being.” By the end of the book, readers will feel they have been in conversation with an old friend. This compelling chronicle can feel both modern and comical as the author reflects on commentary from people who were far from the fighting in Europe: “Hell hath no fury like a non-combatant!” Though the text is long at nearly 500 pages, and certain details (such as an explanation of how Regents exams worked) may seem trivial, Parker’s memoir makes a lasting impression.