Reading the essays of Craig Nagel is like enjoying a good, unhurried visit with a good friend, one who is thoughtful, insightful and articulate-the welcome companion who's good to have around and to be around. He's fun. Nagel simply exudes charm and common sense-and he writes so well. (He's a gentle philosopher of the commonplace.) He's also organized. His brief sketches flow so nicely together. Just perusing his preface-well, there's none like it!-will convince all thinking readers they're in for a real treat. And they are: he's that good. Dr. Art Lee Prof. of History (ret.) Bemidji State University