He was the son of an illiterate immigrant Russian-Jewish ragpicker and junkman. Raised in poverty, longing for his father's approval, Issur Danielovitch went on to become a legendary Hollywood star--Kirk Douglas. Here, in his own words, is the story of his life: his acting triumphs in Sparticus, Lust for Life, The Vikings, Paths of Glory, and Champions (to name a few); his fabled love affairs (among them, Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich, and Pier Angeli); his long, happy marriage to Anne Buydens and tales of his four sons who sometimes do outrageous imitations of their famous father--all at once! In fascinating insider's detail, Kirk Douglas recalls more than forty years of Hollywood, from breaking the blacklist to his epic confrontations with studio bosses. With a cast of characters that includes scores of renowned show business personalities, The Ragman's Son is the passionate, vivid, lusty life of Kirk Douglas: man, actor, lover, husband, father--and enduring star.