By the 1940s, Iraq had become an unsafe place for Jewish citizens as anti-Semitism turned neighbor against neighbor. Fathi’s father had been singled out as a dissident and faced grave consequences if arrested. The author’s parents decided to emigrate to Israel but would do so gradually. Fathi and his brother Yeftah were sent first, and their journey was fraught with danger as their boat was fired upon as they attempted to reach the Iranian border. The boys would eventually reunite with their family and make a new home in Israel.

However, the author was a curious young man who was restless as well. He yearned to see the world beyond and set off at twenty years old for Brazil. Wanderlust would take him to Japan, Korea, and eventually the United States, where he would settle down and start a family. His devotion to his parents and siblings would bring him back to Israel throughout his life, often for poignant reasons.

Fathi has lived a life filled with wonderful and often harrowing memories. His vivid recall of brushes with death manages to serve as a cautionary tale, but also illustrates the love of his parents and family. This is a memoir that proves prescient in its portrayal of the growing discord in the Middle East as Israel became a sanctuary for many displaced Jewish families. The appeal of an autobiography lies in the subject, and this book never fails to be interesting. There are moments of great sadness, such as the personal losses the author has suffered in his life, but they are balanced by the family he has made and the niche he has carved for himself in the United States. This life story is rich in detail and emotions and is fulfilling on many levels.

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