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This memoir describes the author’s family origins up through his own life journey. While Bezkorovainy touches on many topics in his memoir, the uniting theme seems to be displacement and travel. His ancestors all hailed from Imperial Russia, but his father had to leave for Latvia after the Bolshevik Revolution. The author spent his early days in Latvia through the Second World War, but when the Soviets retook the country, his family was evacuated to Germany. After living in a “Displaced Persons Camp” for six years, his family immigrated to the United States. They eventually settled in Chicago, and the young Bezkorovainy began his studies in medicine and biochemistry, which would prove to be his lifelong career.
Bezkorovainy moved several times during his studies. Though he ended up back in the Chicago area for most of his adult life, he and his wife changed churches, purchased vacation homes and a retirement home, and traveled throughout the years. Though physical locations changed frequently in Bezkorovainy’s life, his love and loyalty for his family, his field, and his faith remained steadfast throughout. He held a storied career as a biochemist and professor for the same institution for over forty years. He was continually active in his church.
The author's love for his family radiates off the page as he writes about them. The memoir is organized by theme rather than by strict chronology, so some sections cycle back on topics from previous chapters. Rather than come across as repetitive, these moments feel like revisiting memories with an old friend. Bezkorovainy’s frank and friendly tone invites readers into his tales, as do the corroborating photographs at the end of each chapter. The author states that this is likely his last book; if so, it is a fitting send-off to a life well lived.