Peierls was approached by Oxford University Press in 1982 about a possible 'scientific autobiography', and when in 1983 he submitted draft material the Press again strongly suggested that the book should be revised to strengthen its scientific content. Peierls, however, stuck to his intention to produce a personal account of more general interest, incidentally recalling the Press's rejection in 1954 of his The Laws of Nature which had sold 64,000 copies.

Peierls approached Princeton University Press in September 1983 at the same time as he approached OUP and, as he also informed OUP, Princeton accepted the book promptly. A contract was issued in November and the book appeared in 1985.