The author surrounds personal tales with reflections on finding happiness within oneself, including truisms from thinkers like Woodsworth and Gandhi. Mpouma has a lot to say about his life, which has been one of never fitting in. Things took a harsh turn when he was two years old and his father, a candidate for public office in Cameroon, was assassinated. Growing up amid the resulting family turmoil, Mpouma was frequently getting into trouble at home and at school. He bounced around from the homes of his mother, brothers, and foster father, and never felt wanted.
During this time, he sensed a connection with his deceased grandfather, known as Oboss, the one who messes things up. Mpouma was comforted and inspired by the memory of his outspoken grandfather and his honesty in family or village meetings. In his twenties, Mpouma won the family's approval by getting married and working at the bank. But his heart wasn't in the marriage, and after he got divorced, that approval disappeared. Mpouma joined Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a Buddhist organization that promotes world peace via achieving personal inner peace.
(Excerpt from Kirkus Discoveries,
Nielsen Business Media)