I've had these little Penguin 60s editions of classic works around for a long time. A few years ago, I enjoyed enclosing them in Christmas cards as little gifts. Anyway, they are lovely little paperbacks with beautiful art on the cover. I picked up Montaigne again yesterday and took it to the garage to read as my car was being worked on. It was a good choice. I read "On the Caninibals," an essay about native Brazilians and their ways just discovered by Europeans in the 16th Century exploration of America. Montaigne actually defends the natives' cannibalistic practices but only in comparison to tortures meted out to captives and enemies by Europeans. It was fascinating. And I was interested to find the derivation of one of my grandmother's expressions "your eyes were bigger than your stomach." My grandmother often said this when children had more food on their plates than they could eat. In Montaigne's case, it describes surpassing intellectual digestion. My constant cache of books shows that my eyes are greedy. "On Smells" and "Thumbs," very short essays, present musings on two vital aspects of humanity and being human, the sense of smell and the ability to grasp. The lengthiest and most culturally significant essay is "On the Art of Conversation." I have saved this one for last and am very much looking forward to reading it soon.

I just discovered this. It has been floating around in drawers here at my home for about 10 years. It is time to let another reader enjoy it.

I finally re-read "The Art of Conversation." Given the horrible, silencing political correctness of our time, I was deeply refreshed. I have other editions of Montaigne here and will have to read the essays often to help navigate our irrational times. Presidential elections are on the way! I can't think of a better balm for such infuriation to me and all thinking people than Montaigne. If Thomas Jefferson were still here, he'd comfort himself with Montaigne, I'm sure. This is also a great bookcrossing choice as Montaigne observes quite a lot about reading.

Ten years is a long time. Still, finding this book brought back scenes from the garage where I used to take my poor dying car of that era. I remember a man there commenting on my choice of reading. He was a professorial type and a Montaigne fan. I was sad to see that the poor little homemade book plate that was printed on my former printer had just about separated from the book. The glue had disintegrated. Many of my bookcrossing books might have the same syndrome after all of these years! Oh well. I taped the old bookplate to the back and used one of my new edition bookplates. I designed it for an obscure manuscript I found recently. The man in the picture is swatting a fly. It is a scene from a fable. buttonbright, a fellow bookcrosser found the fable:

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/13356465/

This little book arrived safely in today's mail, along with the lovely card - many thanks! (I love the "preserve the past" bookplate, too.) I like to use these little books for geocache releases, but will definitely read this one first. Thanks again!

Later: This was a quick read but a very meaty one. Montaigne has a refreshingly modern feel, open-minded and interested and wry, and I thoroughly enjoyed these essays. I'm hesitant to quote anything, though, after reading the bit in "Art of Conversation" about people who choose excerpts from great works but select less-than-stellar examples {wry grin}. I agree that his points on debate and discussion are never more apt than during a campaign season, but alas, I fear it's too much to hope that any of the candidates will conduct themselves as Montaigne would. Still, I can try to use some of his guidance myself when I have to weigh opposing candidates' views - or if I get stuck in conversation with someone who wants to rant.

I give points to the editor who selected the entries, too; after the meatier entries, the brief entry on "thumbs" made for an amusing dessert.

I'll definitely read more Montaigne, and will try to find a nice philosophical geocache in which to release this book!

I plan to leave this book on a bench or wall near the gatehouse at the Stellos Stadium entrance at around 10 or so, when I stop by for a Geocaching meetup. Hope the finder enjoys the book!

*** Released as part of the 2015 Keep Them Moving release challenge. ***