"Life on Sandpaper" by Yoram Kaniuk is a fictional memoir detailing the author's time in 1950s bohemian New York, filled with encounters with famous figures like Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Marlon Brando, and James Dean.

In "Crossing Mandelbaum Gate," Kai Bird reflects on his childhood spent in the Middle East, mainly in Jerusalem, Beirut, and Saudi Arabia, due to his father's diplomatic service.

The author reflects on their father's secret struggle with AIDS and the impact it had on their family and personal life.