This interesting and dispassionate memoir recalls the author's experiences from pre-WWI through the 1945 aftermath of WWII. He recalls his family, friends, contacts with well-known individuals, political changes and personal impressions, mostly in Germany but also touching upon Italy, London, Paris and the US as they come into the story. The Nazi takeover of Germany and the impact on him and those known to him are the core of the book, and he includes the texts of letters he received during that time from friends and relatives. The fears, hopes and misjudgments of individuals in face of the growth of Nazi dictatorship are a lesson in the human condition. Other highlights are his memories of Berlin and the contrast to 1945, his role in the Allied occupation (as part of the OSS) and his experience in London. Gilbert was a highly acclaimed historian. This book shows that he was also a down-to-earth, even modest, individual, who was willing to acknowledge his own weaknesses. Highly recommended. ( )