If I had a time machine, I would travel back to meet Henry Miller specifically. Miller’s musings on a life well lived incorporate two of my favorite philosophies, stoicism and existentialism. If you ever find yourself at a point where you feel overwhelmed by the rat race and the demands of modern life, STOP...and read this book. Miller is adept at getting his reader to step back, take a larger view, get humble, and reassess how one is spending one’s time. Combined with the wisdom of Henry David Thoreau, you may just find yourself selling your possessions, moving to Europe and writing that novel you’ve been dreaming about.

A wonderful collection of cultural critiques, metaphysical quandaries, and words of wisdom from a truly great writer. Miller's independence in thought and prose radiates through the stories, supplying a definite amount of poise and a good kick in the pants for any reader. Most of the writings are quite short and digestible, allowing one to skip around from piece to piece easily. While the collection was quite good, I would not recommend this volume of Miller to a reader just beginning to peruse this great man. Check out his two first novels, then maybe see what made the freak tick. Overall, an indispensable read for any fan of his work.

The last essay stands as a summation of how I view life.....to a point.

I loved some of the articles and could not connect with others, however, the ones I enjoyed were so good, it still warrants a 5 star. My favorites were “the hour of man” “stand still like the hummingbird “ and “to read out not to read”.

I love reading what Henry Miller thinks about things. His view is so open, his opinion so logical, and his prose so erudite and direct. He was a very deep person who obviously thought a lot about everything.

A bit disappointing. I love Henry Miller but to me, this was not him at his best. In one breath he preaches a dream of love and unity and transcendence of mankind, and in the next he turns cynical, judgemental and apocalyptic. He eloquently conjures sweeping pronouncements damming all of society.. I am well aware that he has never held back from hurling insults at the world but for some reason it just didn’t land for me. There seems to be a lack of the vital joy that used to exude alongside and despite the blackness of the world.

"these highly readable pieces" do represent the vitality and variety of Miller's interests, yes, though as well do they represent his occasional vitriol and meanness of spirit ("To the American woman the male, whether husband, son, or lover, is a creature to be bullied, exploited or traduced"). Several of the more remarked-on pieces here do fall under that charge, including "Money and How it Gets That Way," an unsuccessful attempt at both sardonic humor and sociology in the form of a whisk through the history of currency in Culture, and "When I Reach for My Revolver," a bitter comment on the paucity of big-c-Culture in America as compared to the continent, which he cannot help but leave and return-to yearly.

He is at his best here when he manages a simple, direct sweetness free of irony and anxiety. Of these few pieces--including a worthwhile review of George Dibbern's Quest--his appreciation of Sherwood Anderson rates the highest. Anderson remains, now as then, a writer whose obscurity in his own country is less criminal than sadly wasteful, and Miller's respect for the man's character and gentleness of spirit is meant to speak for his body of work as well.

If only for an introduction to Anderson--perhaps the only great modern whose craft had as many credible ties to oral storytelling (nevermind that Leskov, Benjamin) as it did to longer form--is this collection worth it.

Top three books of all time. I can't get enough of this book. I've lent it out so many times and I just keep buying it. Just writing this makes me want to pick it up.

At times reading Miller is like fire walking on LSD.

Good but not Miller's best.

Don't get me wrong, I love Miller's novels, but this collection of essays simply doesn't carry any of their charm or extravagance. The problem lies in the lack of cohesion, the essays are very self-contained but the winding road this book leads you down just doesn't bring you to any truly worthwhile destination. For Miller fans, there is definitely some worthwhile stuff here (like his chapter on Money and various political sections) but it's wedged between banal veneration of very popular (and some not so much) artists and writers. I'd say this is for well read Miller fans only.

A collection of essays in the Miller vein, about the struggles of the artist and the decline of western civilization. One of those books that is wonderful if you like Henry Miller (but maybe a bit tedious and repetitive if you don’t).