Citizen of the Galaxy is considered by some to be one of Heinlein's best books. A sentiment which I heartily agree with. It is the story of a young boy sold as a slave to a beggar on an imperial planet. The boy is taught to develop a photographic memory and is frequently hypnotized and "programmed" with information that he can't remember while told to perform certain tasks should his now adoptive "father" ever get in trouble with the imperial authorities. Who is his father really? And just who is the boy slave? The surprising truth emerges as the boy-growing-into-a-man journeys to fulfill his "father's" wishes one day and enters the fascinating world of spacefaring traders and military service in a galactic federation along way. Chock-full of memorable touches and with Heinlein's characteristicly off-beat musings. A voyage of discovery like much good sci-fi. Not to mention just a plain "great read". Give it a try. My personal other favorite Heinlein books are: Stranger in a Strange Land, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Starship Troopers, Starman Jones, Farmer in the Sky, Space Family Stone (sometimes re-titled The Rolling Stones), and Farnham's Freehold. Good stuff!