This book is an accounting of a privileged family living in a dystopian society where the government is God and blasphemy is severely chastised. After glimpsing the freedom and prosperity of the west Dr. Abdullayev wondered why the people of his beloved Azerbaijan, with few exceptions, lived in poverty and squalor. With all the natural resources of a first world country why was Azerbaijan a third world country? Professor Abdullayev, a kind and thoughtful man, asked this question on national television and paid an enormous price for his question and followup analysis. His criticism of the system cost him a big price. His family also paid.