Wayne Flynt is a well-known Alabamian. He is a beloved history professor who taught at Samford University and at Auburn University. His area of specialty is economic and labor history of the Deep South. He is an ordained Baptist minister. His interests and vocations have led him to become a crusader in the anti-poverty war. Because of this he has run afoul of the "Big Mules" in Alabama state politics more than once. Because of his statewide reputation as a crusader and stand-up guy, he also got cross-wise of Bobby Lowder, CEO of Colonial Bank, millionaire, and Auburn University Board of Trustees. A large portion of this book is devoted to Flynt's side of the Board of Trustee wars in the 1990's and 2000's that almost destroyed Auburn University. If you are interested in how the American South got to be the corrupt place it was and still is then this is a must-read book for you. In it you will find that the Old South is not dead, but there are people still willing to fight for civil rights of all classes of people.

This book is a memoir written by a master storyteller. The book is documented were it needs to be by Flynt's notes, diaries, and state records. However, there are no end notes and no index so going back to check on details is a bit difficult. Even so the book is smooth reading, well written, and unlike so many memoirs, well documented and an example of how a memoir should be written. ( )

Wonderful memoir of Wayne Flynt - child of poverty, Samford graduate, history professor at Samford and then at Auburn, Baptist preacher, progressive, lifelong advocate for education and economic reform. Provides a front-row seat for the politics of poverty and education in Alabama, as well as the political battle for control of Auburn University. ( )

I could not put this book down! ( )