One or two friends to whom I showed these papers in MS. having observed that they were not half bad, and some of my relations having promised to buy the book if it ever came out, I feel I have no right to longer delay its issue. But for this, as one may say, public demand, I perhaps should not have ventured to offer these mere "idle thoughts" of mine as mental food for the English-speaking peoples of the earth. What readers ask nowadays in a book is that it should improve, instruct, and elevate. This book wouldn't elevate a cow. I cannot conscientiously recommend it for any useful purposes whatever. All I can suggest is that when you get tired of reading "the best hundred books," you may take this up for half an hour. It will be a change.
PREFACE
One or two friends to whom I showed these papers in MS. havingobserved that they were not half bad, and some of my relations havingpromised to buy the book if it ever came out, I feel I have no rightto longer delay its issue. But for this, as one may say, publicdemand, I perhaps should not have ventured to offer these mere "idlethoughts" of mine as mental food for the English-speaking peoples ofthe earth. What readers ask nowadays in a book is that it shouldimprove, instruct, and elevate. This book wouldn't elevate a cow. Icannot conscientiously recommend it for any useful purposes whatever.
All I can suggest is that when you get tired of reading "the besthundred books," you may take this up for half an hour. It will be achange.
PREFACE
18/11/2017
ON BEING IDLE
18/11/2017
ON BEING IN LOVE
18/11/2017
ON BEING IN THE BLUES
18/11/2017
ON BEING HARD UP
18/11/2017
ON VANITY AND VANITIES
18/11/2017
ON GETTING ON IN THE WORLD
18/11/2017
ON THE WEATHER
18/11/2017
ON CATS AND DOGS
18/11/2017
ON BEING SHY
18/11/2017
ON BABIES
18/11/2017
ON EATING AND DRINKING
18/11/2017
ON FURNISHED APARTMENTS
18/11/2017
ON DRESS AND DEPORTMENT
18/11/2017
ON MEMORY
18/11/2017
Other books by Jerome K. Jerome
More