A Self-Made Man:
Building the American Dream
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The Greek philosopher Socrates believed an unexamined life is not worth living so he recommended individuals evaluate their actions and think about their life to understand themselves and make living meaningful. I am writing this book to examine my life and share my experiences, hoping the exercise will be useful to others. I grew up on a small farm in northern California during the Great Depression. My parents didn't finish elementary school because they had to work after their parents died. My father, John, lost his farm in Nebraska during the Great Depression and move to California when I was a year old searching for opportunities. My achievements are noteworthy mainly because I grew up in poverty on a small farm in a rural area of California and my mother verbally abused me, but I was able to achieve the American Dream through hard work, education, and conservative values.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
The Greek philosopher Socrates believed an unexamined life is not worth living and recommended we think about life to make living meaningful. I am writing this book to examine my life and share my experiences, hoping it will be useful to others. I grew up on a small farm in California during the Great Depression. My parents didn't finish elementary school because they had to work after their parents died, my father lost his farm in Nebraska during the Great Depression and moved to California looking for opportunities. I grew up in poverty and my mother verbally abused me because my biological father abandoned her, and I was an unwanted child. However, I achieved the American Dream through hard work, perseverance, and educational opportunities to become a college professor, successful attorney, and published author. In my memoir, I trace my life from its beginning on a small farm, through my education, work history, marriages, divorces, world travels, and retirement.
About the Author
Harry L. Munsinger, J.D., Ph.D. is a retired attorney, former psychology professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of California San Diego. He received his undergraduate education at the University of California Berkeley, his Ph.D. from the University of Oregon, and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law. He attended Yale University as a post-doctoral fellow in developmental psychology, practiced clinical psychology, served as an expert witness, and practiced family law in Texas. He may be reached at harry@harrymunsinger.com