Jeannette Walls' book brings lively discussion about struggle, acceptance, character and inner strength. It presents a challenge to try to uncover the pieces that were left out of its pages and offers the mind-bending exercise of sorting through your innermost feelings regarding this family's choices.

Although some interesting historical insights are provided, one gets the sense from the beginning that the lesson here is to plan ahead. It is rather disconcerting to know that a former president of the United States was more of a tactical (and somewhat fickle) leader rather than a strategic leader, which he left in the hands of those with unproven skills.