This work investigates the devastating, lifelong impact of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) on both the affected child and the family unit tasked with his care. Michael Dorris, an anthropologist and single adoptive father, chronicles the reality of raising a son with severe developmental disabilities caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. He combines personal narrative with rigorous research to challenge societal misconceptions about disability, addiction, and the limits of parental intervention. The text serves as both a memoir of a father's struggle and a critical examination of the public health crisis facing Indigenous communities.

This book is widely regarded as a seminal, unflinching examination of the realities of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Its blend of personal vulnerability and anthropological rigor provides a comprehensive look at a complex public health issue.