I love this book and have read it many times. When I have a friend who needs cheering up, I loan them my copy. It is usually passed around to their family & friends before I get it back. If ever one is in need of hope, this story provides a beautiful example of people helping, loving, laughing and eating together. It is the quintessential story of immigration to America with its deprivation, hard work and eventual success. With the help of Georg's wife, it is told with the indiosyncratic syntax of a non-native speaker of English which makes you feel the author is telling his adventures to you directly. Papashvily was an amazing person and one of the few authors that I would love to have spent an evening with listening to his stories. This makes a great gift of joy to anyone you know.

This is the story of a man who loved America from the moment he set foot on our shores. He said, and never changed his mind that, in America, "Anything Can Happen." There are many vignettes in his book, telling of his adventures and misadventures in America, but he never changed his opinion that he loved America, even though he sought the companionship of other Georgians. This book was made into a movie which fell far short of the book, which dealt with his honesty, integrity, and love for all pertaining to America and his fellow men. This book is heart-warming, poignant, and often brings a tear to the eye; in other parts it brings a chuckle or a laugh or a general thumbs-up. I have read the book a number of times not only to myself, but aloud to my family, especially when traveling. Exceptionally enjoyable were vignettes about Dzea Vanno, the wager about fitting a Nash wheel on their vehicle, Luba--who had the disposition of a camel, and at a party, his saying, regarding food, that "...only too much was ever enough", plus being outside and listening to "...people being happy and enjoying themselves in his home" (paraphrased). I heartily recommend this book to anyone!