Charles Darwin had a theory and John Peaker lived to test it. For Peaker and his friends, growing up in Toronto pushed their bodies to the limit; they played football without padding, boxed in dangerous places and then there was that infamous pool ski-jumping incident. John Peaker's "The Wayward Life and Times of a Dipsy Doodle Dandy" details a book's worth of entertaining exploits, and the utter ridiculousness with which his group continued to live up to its "survival of the fittest" philosophy. As self-deprecating as its title suggests, "The Wayward Life and Times of a Dipsy Doodle Dandy" provides a trip down memory lane during a time when pain and injury were part of the typical, and seeking out wild times was every boy's goal. Peaker's memoir reveals the author's favorite times during the 1950s and '60s, an era the author fondly remembers as irreverent and relevant to growing up. The Wayward Life and Times of a Dipsy Doodle Dandy is filled with hysterical exploits, dubious decision-making, and laugh-out-loud results. John Peaker's tribute to a life well lived is one of the most fun and unforgettable trips down memory lane to be taken in quite some time. Employing a spare, minimalist style that adds to the overall comedic sensibilities, The Wayward Life and Times of a Dipsy Doodle Dandy is a gem to be appreciated with gusto.