The author, who is the tenth child of poor sharecropper parents, entered the work force when he was eight years old. During his childhood, there was limited time for school and study. He dropped out of elementary and secondary school three times; the last one after the 10th grade and joined the US Navy during the Korean War.

After passing the GED, he entered College on the GI bill and became a Professor of Medicine. Dr Wilmer Nichols' unbelievable life is summarized in the pages of this book.