It's always difficult to review a memoir because it can feel as though you are making a judgment about someone's life and life choices. That's not the case here because Dutta has written a fascinating book about not only his life but that of his brother Raju. Could this be a case of nature versus nuture- one brother emigrated to the US, gained advanced degrees, and joined the LAPD while the other became a murderer. Clearly Dutta has spent a lot of time thinking about why their lives are so different and ultimately there is, as in so many things, no answer. This does wander a bit at times but it's a fascinating story. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A worthy read.

Nature vs. Nurture is an age old debate and in this book the author Sunil Dutta has tried his best to help the readers pick a side and decide for themselves. The reality is that it is difficult to say which one has a total say in how a person develops and acts. I personally feel they both are at play to varying extent in defining his or her personality. The author is a scientist by training and what better to test the hypothesis but on your own life. Two brothers both turning out 180 degree diametrically opposite in personality. One following the path of love, meaning, patience and other one following path of greed, manipulation and crime. The description of life in India at that time is fairly accurate except couple of things that I found little imaginative but overall good description of socioeconomic and cultural practices at that time. I think most Indian readers can relate to the story except the romantic aspect of the author. The author is cut from a different material when it comes to love. His love for an american girl with everything she puts the author through is little too much to stomach for any self-respecting man. But I suppose when you are in love, you are in love. Journey from a refugee camp to PhD at UC Davis and then eventually as a police officer at LAPD is what this book is about but the debate this book tries to answer is whether an evil person is inherently evil or does the circumstances around that person makes him so.

Overall, I think this is a good book. It's an easy read and certainly worth checking it out at your local library.