Astonishing. Searingly honest with plenty of drama it is the true story of a young life led that promised much, delivered more that could ever have been envisaged until the bottom fell out of the author's world.

From the realms of high finance and a chance encounter with the President to the comedic pathos of the participation in a football tournament, as an inpatient of a psychiatric facility.

After a lengthy period flat out on the canvas of life, our pugilist in all but name, gets back into the ring and makes another attempt, successful again, to prove you can't keep a good man down.

If only that were the end of the story. But there's a sting in the tail that brings readers up short. The lesson: it really is a good idea to make the most of every day granted to you.

Tom Reiss professes to know less and less about life as he poignantly, and with good humour, reflects upon his own.

Reiss's mastery of storytelling through his melodic prose gently guides the reader through the most compelling of lives.

Quintessentially, this is a beautiful memoir by a truly remarkable man. Read it. You'll be surprised by what you may learn.