This short book is the autobiographical story of Mr. Kanatchikov prior to and during the Russian Revolution of 1917. The protagonist is a blue-collar worker living in the city of St. Petersburg. His experiences at his factory job and his poverty help to fuel his frustration with the system. He begins going to meetings of the Communist Party and other outlawed organizations. Soon his attendance increases to participation, organization, and propaganda. Meanwhile, he moves from job to job as each job he goes to fires him when they discover his activities. The book climaxes with violent protests against the czar, and finally revolution. The book gives a good sense of what it was like to be alive at that point. The author describes his feelings, his words, and his actions as he transforms from passive worker to active protester. The book gives a good inside view of how the Russian Revolution occurs, and should be read by those who seek to understand communism, its roots, and Russian history.