To Live Is To Remember (Yaşamak Hatırlamaktır) is not merely a traditional autobiography; rather, it is a deeply personal mosaic of memories, emotional fragments, and vivid snapshots from the life of master poet Ülkü Tamer. Instead of presenting a linear timeline, Tamer offers readers a bittersweet taste of the very essence of his lifetime. This vibrant tapestry weaves together recent Turkish history, the evolution of Turkish literature over the last century, and his deep passions for football, the Mediterranean, theater, and cinema. Through his poetic and observant lens, the narrative is populated with legendary figures, from actors like Cüneyt Arkın and Yılmaz Güney to fellow poets and theater artists.

Tamer beautifully chronicles the many profound stops along his life's journey—from his formative years in Gaziantep and blackout nights during wartime to his education at the prestigious Robert College in Istanbul. As one of the most important figures of the Second New poetry movement, Tamer uses his skillful pen to share invaluable experiences from his years in translation, publishing, and teaching. Reading these memoirs offers not just an intimate look at the poet's life, but a closer, richer understanding of Turkey and its cultural landscape. As Tamer himself suggests, readers are invited to follow the "white birds in the dark," bearing witness to his memories and, in doing so, truly living them alongside him.