Robert Jay Lifton, an American psychiatrist and author, describes his life, including his decision to stay in Hong Kong after his service in the Korean War to interview and learn about people who were subjected to Chinese thought reform, shares his thoughts on the human consequences of nuclear weapons, and discusses his friendships with intellectuals, writer, and artists of the twentieth century.

Includes index.

The decision -- Method and reach -- Finding a mentor -- Finding a voice--with help from friends -- Further struggles with totalism -- "Hiroshima had disappeared" -- Getting to Hiroshima -- The visceral immersion -- Entrapment by the bomb -- Dr. Hiroshima -- Vietnam and the sixties -- Responding to slaughter -- Existential evil -- "The sixties" -- Home from the war -- Nazi doctors--did it really happen? -- Strong enough stomach? -- Sitting down with Nazi doctors -- Historical encounters -- The infernal chorus -- Next steps -- Coming home -- Full circle.