In this autobiography the author chronicles events in his parents lives in a rural Missouri river town in the 1900s. Their experiences seasoned his character during his childhood in the 60s that is described in the later half of the book. This memoir was written for the authors children as a way for them to know their heritage. The experiences in the authors life shaped his character and were vastly different from his childrens lives as times changed. The book is dedicated to the authors wife who was instrumental in its completion. These events and escapades are presented in a light-hearted, story telling format.

ピーター・ドーソンの「Seasoning of a Life」は、単なる一族の記録を超え、時代が魂に刻み込む熟成の過程を鮮やかに描いた一冊です。1900年代のミズーリ川沿いの町の風景と、著者が駆け抜けた60年代の熱狂。二つの時代が親から子へと受け継がれる精神の糧となり、豊かな人格を形成していく過程は、まるで魂の年輪をたどるような深い感動に満ちています。 本書の白眉は、軽妙な語り口の背後に潜む、消えゆく時代への深い敬意と愛です。激変する社会で失われがちなアイデンティティの根源を、次世代への贈り物として綴る著者の筆致は情熱的で、読者の心に自身のルーツを慈しむ光を灯します。時代が変わっても色褪せない人間の品格の源泉に触れられる、極めて文学的価値の高い回想録です。