The American Legacy of an Italian Motorcyclist is jam-packed with drama: a motorcyclist in constant danger during World War I, entrepreneurial illegality that allows an hotel manager to flee from the Old World to the New, a romance on the high seas, a hairs-breadth escape from a Nazi firing squad, considerable bootlegging, and a can’t-miss investment opportunity that goes sideways after treachery and betrayal in Cuba.

And then the book really gets started!

Join San Francisco native Bob Paredi as he shares his story about growing up in the heart of 1930s San Francisco, the cherished only son in a close-knit immigrant family. The city of San Francisco itself plays an important role in Bob’s young life, and the city, its history, and its landmarks pulse with vitality as seen from the eyes of an all-American boy. After graduating from Lick-Wilmerding High, Bob receives a petroleum engineering degree from U.C.-Berkeley. On duty with the U.S. Army in France, he meets the love of his life, Sandra, a British citizen working as an au pair. They marry and move to Venezuela, where Bob manages oil fields and they raise their daughters. Bob’s computer expertise will lead to him spearheading petroleum projects abroad, including many trips back and forth to Norway.

After retirement to Savannah, Bob changes direction and becomes an outspoken environmental activist, pushing back against “big oil” and its efforts to write laws and policies that damage our environment. Given his deep and decades-long experience and industry expertise, Bob’s opinion is well worth listening to.

Local color, lots of international travel, ground-breaking creativity, and a whole lot of hard work – this is The American Legacy of an Italian Motorcyclist.