It may or may not surprise you that during my many years in medical school, I didn’t learn what makes people tick. I was taught about our organs, how they work, and what we can do to help them work better. That part of the education is constantly evolving. But mostly, I have been fascinated by the dilemma between nature and nurture. How much does our culture, parents, lifetime experiences, or even friends influence what we do? How much are we magically “self-made” outside of external influences, as some people would claim? And how much is it the genes that influence our eye color and susceptibility to heart disease and our behavior and decisions? This is a memoir, a historical story born out of curiosity. For me, it is a case study of me and my ancestors. A subtitle could be, “Our genes exposed.” For you, it is a mystery story, a love story, a tragedy, and a success story, and one that will be enjoyed and provoke readers to self-reflect.