Harold Doerr’s life was shaped by many and varied forces. In this memoir, he shares the stories and experiences that helped him become the man he is today. Using a three-part approach, in A Square of Daffodils, Capitalism, and Why Children Don’t Learn, Doerr talks about the subjects most dear to him. He first reflects on his family’s westward movement and establishing family gathering places and how this close family relationship affected him and his learning disability. Doerr then details his experiences working in a large variety of schools, traveling mostly to third world countries. He tells of adopting an African American child and helping him as he grows to adulthood. This multifaceted memoir also includes Doerr’s thoughts on capitalism and how it negatively affects learning and education and his feelings about teacher evaluations and merit pay. Filled with many personal anecdotes, family details, and photos, A Square of Daffodils, Capitalism, and Why Children Don’t Learn provides an insightful look at the experiences of a lifelong educator.