At once a beautifully poetic memoir and an uncompromising political tract, the narrative moves elegantly between the microcosm of Jensen's family and the macrocosm of world history. Parallels are drawn between the abuse he experienced at the hands of his father and the destructive march of "progress" under the banner of a world market. He highlights the inevitable losses of a planet that is dying to keep up with the selfish whims of its inhabitants.