The Mystery of Things - Hardcover

Here, diverting and diverse as ever, is another platter of intellectual not so dim sum from a master chef... Grayling has three gifts. He roams far beyond his philosophical brief. He is wonderfully prolific. And he writes with a wry, crafted simplicity. (PETER PRESTON OBSERVER)

These essays on science, the arts and history examine what they offer to our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. (NEW SCIENTIST)

You could do far worse than spend an evening or three in the company of this book. Like good conversation, it engages you in a flow of topics without ever pausing long enough to bore. The essays and reviews are succinct, informative and always reasonable... The order of essays parallels the order of evenings and guests - arts, history, science - and with a similar purpose in mind. That purpose is enlightenment. Ignorance must be banished... The aim is laudable." (Lisa Appignanesi THE INDEPENDENT)

This informative, witty collection of essays and reviews is loosely tied together by the idea that reflecting on the inner nature of things, the personal aspect of philosophy, happens most readily in the areas of the arts, history and science. As ever, Grayling, is worth reading, partly for the sheer weight of knowledge he brings to bear... Grayling's is clearly a more intelligent book than 99 per cent of others... A smashing bedside companion. (TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT)

This book is that rare bird, a volume of essays. We all love reading essays. (THE TABLET)