The late Max Black was Susan Linn Sage Professor of Philosophy and Human Letters at Cornell University and President of the International Institute of Philosophy. His other books include Language and Philosophy and The Labyrinth of Language.

"Amusing and enlightening, these essays for the general reader deal with such topics as being reasonable, what it is to be humane, and P. T. Barnum's delightful book on humbugs. Reading them, one is reminded of William James's similar essays, not to adulterate philosophy into chit-chat but to elevate common sense."—Key Reporter

The late Max Black was Susan Linn Sage Professor of Philosophy and Human Letters at Cornell University and President of the International Institute of Philosophy. His other books include Language and Philosophy and The Labyrinth of Language.

"Amusing and enlightening, these essays for the general reader deal with such topics as being reasonable, what it is to be humane, and P. T. Barnum's delightful book on humbugs. Reading them, one is reminded of William James's similar essays, not to adulterate philosophy into chit-chat but to elevate common sense."—Key Reporter

The late Max Black was Susan Linn Sage Professor of Philosophy and Human Letters at Cornell University and President of the International Institute of Philosophy. His other books include Language and Philosophy and The Labyrinth of Language.

"Amusing and enlightening, these essays for the general reader deal with such topics as being reasonable, what it is to be humane, and P. T. Barnum's delightful book on humbugs. Reading them, one is reminded of William James's similar essays, not to adulterate philosophy into chit-chat but to elevate common sense."—Key Reporter