Rife with insight and candor, this chronicle details the year that author Shalom Freedman spent pursuing a philosophy of derech eretz --acting with consideration and kindness toward his fellow human beings. Freedman's honest account lays bare the difficulties and obstacles that even an individual determined to do good can face, even as it emphasizes time and again the importance of reaching out and connecting with others. More than just a personal narrative of engaging those on the fringes, however, this book serves as a practical guide for pursuing integrity and kindness in an increasingly self-centered world.