The Greek philosopher Socrates believed an unexamined life is not worth living and recommended we think about life to make living meaningful. I am writing this book to examine my life and share my experiences, hoping it will be useful to others. I grew up on a small farm in California during the Great Depression. My parents didn't finish elementary school because they had to work after their parents died, my father lost his farm in Nebraska during the Great Depression and moved to California looking for opportunities. I grew up in poverty and my mother verbally abused me because my biological father abandoned her, and I was an unwanted child. However, I achieved the American Dream through hard work, perseverance, and educational opportunities to become a college professor, successful attorney, and published author. In my memoir, I trace my life from its beginning on a small farm, through my education, work history, marriages, divorces, world travels, and retirement.