Raindrops on My Life's Umbrella: A University Professor's World Memoirs

When I submitted my college textbook, "Trustworthy Computing" in 2005, and newly, the "Cyber-Risk Informatics" in 2014, Wiley editor asked me both times what was so special about my book proposals. Rather, what were they doing that others were not accomplishing, or what void did the book fill? I recall I made my points quite fully, not only explaining but also supporting with statistical findings and website charts to justify the need for a new book-to-be, which was not currently available in the literature. I will now ask myself the same question about how this book is different. I may say that the book will be about a foreign scholar’s storytelling while strolling the globe about what hardships and challenges he went through, and during which stages of his life; how he contributed to the life immediately around him or far away from and in the United States of America? All contained in the book will be speaking the plain truth, by recounting memoirs, nothing more or nothing less and no fiction and all facts. However, the interpretation of these facts will be left to the readers’ judgments.

While writing her legendary book, ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’, which was not at all easy and obvious, Harper Lee went through a lot of difficult and unnerving periods to conclude her book in the way that she wanted to craft it to perfection, therefore leading to a timeless document for ages to come. One day while being assisted in New York City by a staff of helpers and seasoned coaches such as Truman Capote, also hailing from the Deep South; Lee angrily tossed her almost finished manuscript out of the window into the snow laden street; the only copy those days when electronic copying was non-existent. Luckily, waking up from a nightmare, she walked outside and retrieved it safely, and she went right back to work from where she left off, therefore, ridding of her momentary frustration that was accumulated like the vapor in a pressure cooker. If she had waited a few moments more, the book-to-be would not be anymore, and easily get wasted in the hustle and bustle. I had moments like this especially toward the end of this book writing by questioning myself. “What on earth are you doing, no one needs your book, and if they did they would ask you to write one; so stop this nonsense”. Then I found myself responding to my own worrisome query. “Well you did write this manuscript for intellectual brainstorming, and to make good use of time in order to have peace with your past and also analyze the present as you walked along your memoirs, right?” Maybe someone (other than my wife who walked the walk and talked the talk with me, as she noted while editing this book!) may see even a distant need to associate with you and sympathize, remark an instant of correlation to reminisce her or his slice of life; why not? At least, 5% to 10% may not like it. A new U.S. President was in 2008 elected with a 52% majority; only one out of two wanted him! I used to read, as an amateur author, plentiful encouraging book passages about how to write a book in 1990s. These how-to-write books, one of which was titled “Anybody Can Write” by R. Jean Bryant (who wrote: “There is no magic! Dreamers dream, writers write…”) all pleasantly advised you to pour your excitement and enthusiasm relentlessly without looking back and full of adrenaline, alive onto the dead papyrus, nowadays replaced by a flat non-living computer screen. This is why I did what I did; now you are looking at it and wondering what it is going to do for you? I can only hope that it brings nothing but fun and knowledge and experience that you come to find out through other folks' lives. This book in a way is something similar to that tradition of carrying on friendly talks with my readers about the world and North America from a dual citizen’s perspective with a genuine heart and a candid smile, and a positive attitude in the least. So let us roll and fetch “them” memoirs before I forget them.