F. Sionil José, the most widely translated Filipino writer, delivered these autobiographical lectures in 2005. They are a summing up of six decades of creative imagination and dedication.

This lengthy writing career was first inspired by his mother, Sofia, who learned English from the Thomasites— the first American teachers who came to the Philippines after the conclusion of the Philippine-American War in 1902.

In grade school, his teacher Soledad Oriel introduced him to Jose Rizal, Willa Cather and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, and the University of Santo Tomas, his teachers Paz Latorena and Juan Labrador, nurtured him: the former how to read, and the latter, a Dominican writer, taught him an important lesson in writing— clarity.

Though these essays are personal, they can be instructive to those who want to read, to write, and to understand the Filipinos and their country.

Solidaridad Publishing House.

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