In this autobiography, he follows playwright James Thurber?s advice to ?look around with awareness.? Even though the writer looks at the country?s future with some concern, he does not look backward at his life with anger. This autobiography is loaded with quotes from notable people. Each quote closely pertains to the author?s life events to which they refer. Due to his being influenced very strongly by Michelangelo?s encouragement, ?Follow the masters, ? the reader will find many quotes mixed into the text reflecting upon the event(s) being discussed. One example is by George Bernard Shaw, ?A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.?