From the perspective of a long and active life, James Babcock-Jim to all who know him-shares anecdotes from his experiences as a college student, Naval officer, international and domestic banker, community activist, amateur cook, fundraiser, violinist, novelist, vexillologist, and traveler. Framed as essays on a wide variety of themes-history, politics, service, perversity, language, music, belief, and many more-his unconventional narrative also muses on how the world works and how it might work better.