The extreme importance of this book is that in one longish volume Haywood has given us an indispensable history, as reference and sum-up of practical struggles, of not only his particular thirty-six years in the Communist Party USA, including his road into and out of it, but equally has given us a good portion of political history. The chronicle of Haywood’s life, from his birth in South Omaha to his continuous traveling throughout this country and internationally, searching, struggling, organizing, the interwoven lives of his family, comrades, and the endless stream of personalities he encounters. The sweep of history and event contained in this book will fascinate any serious reader.