An inspiring and true story of one man's journey from a bleak childhood in China to the competitive United States, "Memories in Two Nations: China and the U.S.A." examines how one man's loyalty to two countries and individual perseverance offered a wealth of opportunities, not only for himself, but for his children as well. Stephen Shao was born in the small town of Zarkow, China, living in conditions that guaranteed gunfire and bombing while on the walk to school. Despite this environment of war and despair, Shao's father instilled a belief in education within all of his children. This belief fueled Stephen Shao's adamant desire to succeed and contribute in both of his countries, the United States and China. Stephen Shao's inspiring autobiographical work focuses on the importance of family and culture, while exploring the innate tendency of the human spirit to survive the harshest of circumstances to reach and obtain what we may perceive as the unreachable.