In this engrossing and heart-tugging memoir, Dr. Irwin tells the story of his life: from gardening with his grandmother as a young child, through a tormented and dysfunctional upbringing to the trials and tribulations of self-funded educational pursuit resulting in national prominence as a cancer surgeon. Irwin's penchant for introspective self-analysis is readily apparent as he details his rise through academia and the corporate ladder of big hospital administration.