The subtitle of the book is: Growing up under Fascists and Communists. It is an autobiographical and historical narrative. It is the the story of the author's childhood, teenage years, and young adulthood in Central Europe under fascism and communism. It offers a vivid description of Jewish life in that part of the world before, during, and after World War II. The author grew up in a province that belonged to the Austrian Empire before World War I, was later annexed by the Kingdom of Romania, taken over by the Soviets, occupied by Romanian and German troops during World War II, and eventually reoccupied by the Soviets. The author and his family lived under these different rulers, and the narrative describes their life during those turbulent years. The author also describes life in communist Romania after the war.