"Progulki s Kurizej" (Strolling with the Chicken) is the first book by Gregory (Gene) Shirin, written as a collection of anecdotes. This memoir, with stories ranging from the humorous to the melancholy, paints a picture not only of the author, but of the people he met throughout his life both in the former Soviet Union and in the United States. The author may be an accomplished engineer with a PhD in computer science, but he is first and foremost a native of Baku, Azerbaijan. In every story, you feel his love for his city of birth and and for his neighbors. Each of Gregory's stories are infused with a light irony and amusement at himself and his own life's events. His Baku character lends charm to this book, which will appeal to a broad readership. Book lovers will find this memoir interesting and entertaining.