Ken Paulson's memoir could be described as Hunter S. Thompson "lite." With a good dollop of Jean Shepherd mixed in.
As the son of a federal bureaucrat known as an "office fixer," he quickly learned that putting down roots was tricky when you regularly moved from town to town.
Add to that a slightly-neurodivergent, curious and sharp mind, and you could have guessed how this was likely to go.
The path to finding yourself is often bumpy. Sometimes, you will find boulders in the middle of the road.
In this coming-of-age story, by turns hilarious, heartbreaking and a little horrifying, Paulson lets it fly in his inimitable style. Testing drugs for bikers. Gonzo road trips. Hitchhiking, because broke.
And also . . . that boulder.
Finally, Paulson has an epiphany. He learned at sixteen that he was a goldsmith by fascination, physical dexterity and a unique left-right brain connection that easily mingled science with art.
But ultimately, he also discovered who the rest of him really is.
Pick up this fast-paced memoir of growing up while hurdling fate today.