"In twenty-four concussive, embodied, and nonlinear essays, Ramos creates a challenging and complex portrait of what it means to be a soldier, civilian, veteran, father, husband, and teacher - for Ramos ultimately becomes a creative writing professor, using the skills he developed in the military to help others tell stories and find meaning in their lives. While this may sound something like a redemption story, it is instead a brutally honest portrayal that refuses easy answers and seeks to help other war veterans realize they're not alone"-- Provided by publisher.

Comm check -- Just a movie -- Boxes -- Hazelnut -- Section 60, Grave 8356 -- War stories -- Boots -- Throwback Thursday -- The best meal I ever had -- Thank you for your service -- What it's like to come home -- What the workshop did -- A long but incomplete list of some of the things you can't (don't) talk about -- Sleep -- Agoge -- Red shoes -- Hearsay -- Ontario Airport, Terminal Four -- Sitting -- 41: a meditation -- Hurry up and wait -- Time -- Boots, revisited -- Sometimes -- Hip-pocket lecturer.