Karcher's autobiography largely tells of his invention of the reflection seismograph and his development and use of it for finding oil, gas, and mineral deposits. Born in Indiana, Karcher studied physics and electrical engineering as an undergraduate at the University of Oklahoma. He began graduate work on x-rays in 1916 at the University of Pennsylvania. His studies were interrupted by World War I, during which he worked for the United States Bureau of Standards on detecting and locating enemy artillery by measuring sound waves. When he returned to school he began applying his war work to the search for oil and gas. He spent most of his career developing and applying that technology, which he did through his company, Geophysical Service, Inc. from 1930 into the 1970s. Karcher mentions a short period in 1917 in which he worked in the Thomas Edison Laboratory as important for the lessons of perseverance and persistance he learned from Edison.