Perspective

Education of a Wandering Man" is the memoir of writer Louis L'Amour. The book is narrated by the author in the first person. No one could be better suited than L'Amour to tell the story of his unusual education. Beginning at the age of sixteen, Louis worked in a variety of gritty and dangerous jobs around the world. With the Great Depression on the precipice, times were tough and money was hard to come by. To help out his family, L'Amour left school, left home, and went out on his own. He presents the stories in a bright and soft light by asserting that all of his experiences were part of his education.

Although L'Amour's lack of bitterness over having missed out on a formal education is obvious, one cannot help but think that his demeanor was perhaps not as happy-go-lucky as it was portrayed in his memoir...