Alexander G. Ruthven became president of The University of Michigan in 1929. He guided the school through the troubled decade of the Great Depression and the world war which followed. He brought to this task a sense of personal dedication that was touched by a warm human understanding. In this book President Ruthven writes of his childhood and undergraduate experiences in Iowa, of his graduate career at Michigan, and then recalls episodes from his faculty and presidential years. He reflects upon his relations with students, alumni, faculty, deans, and the state legislature. Although these were difficult years, President Ruthven's term of office (1929-51) spanned a period of unprecedented growth for the University and for education in general. His keen intelligence, wit, and sense of humor make this a personal portrait that transcends ordinary biography. For all those concerned with education, reading this book will provide a rewarding and illuminating experience.