This inspirational book is a tribute to the ingenuity, perseverance, and love of the “American Dream” displayed by the author’s father as he relocated his young family from Libya to Sicily and, finally, to the United States during the 1960s. The cheerful, steady determination and willingness to take intelligent risks, demonstrated in the context of the interesting narrative flow, is a reflection of Galliani’s father’s straightforward, honest personality and a nod to the Italian culture that nurtured and motivated the whole family.

It’s not easy to be the eldest child, particularly the eldest son of a successful man. Galliani outlines the trajectory of his father’s struggles and successes as a blue-collar worker whose steady, hard work and smart choices delivered the results that so many people hope for, whether born in the USA or an immigrant desiring US citizenship. The author also shares his own remarkable path to success as he describes the trajectory of his beloved father’s life.

Both father and son encountered their share of obstacles but were justly rewarded with opportunities and advancement in their chosen fields at a time when Americans, in general, also enjoyed a golden era of prosperity. While the author links this to a perceived ideal of the immigration policy of the era, there is also the post-war upswing in the US economy to consider. The era’s substantial taxation of corporations and the wealthy aided many wage earners to acquire solid jobs without the benefit of higher education, along with the acquisition of the economic markers of prosperity like home ownership, automobiles, higher education for offspring, and so on. However, this fact doesn’t minimize the effort needed to excel as an immigrant or citizen, nor does it detract from the superb writing. The Galliani family story is a familiar one but fresh in its candor and enthusiasm.

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