Oscar Felix (1893-1980) was born in the Ukraine, in Brailov, a village with one doctor who also doubled as the town barber. From day one, Oscar was introduced to a cold, cruel, and hungry world. His father had died six months before he was born and left his mother with so many debts that she could not afford to buy straw to heat the house. Thirst and hunger were the staple of Oscar's life and that of his six siblings. Humor reflected their social standing: When does a Jew sing? When he is hungry.

Against all odds, Oscar Felix made it out. By the age of 20, he had taken the most important decision of his life, thanks to Thomas Edison and a box he had invented in a faraway land called America. A wealthy lawyer had bought a phonograph, and every Friday evening, he would put the phonograph on his balcony for the entire population in the shtetl to enjoy. Oscar Felix introduces us to a slew of characters from the shtetl.

The poverty is unimaginable. Yet, Felix had his mind set on one thing and one thing only, and he let nothing distract him. After an adventurous journey, by way of New York, he finally ended up in Santa Monica, California, and instantly knew he was home. He was lucky to escape before every Jew in Brailov, including his own family, was buried alive by the Nazis.

His is a timeless story. There are millions of Oscar Felixes out there today, with the same goal in mind: to reach the greatest nation on earth.