A Little Philosophy of Life

Robert J. Burdette's "A Little Philosophy of Life" is a warm, wry pilgrimage through the human experience. Written in 1914, this collection of essays offers gentle wisdom without ever becoming preachy. Burdette acknowledges that life contains giants (mostly windmills, he quips), midgets, mosquitoes, and occasional hold-up men with subscription papers. Yet his faith in humanity remains unshaken, the world, he insists, is full of friendly people for friendly men. He writes with disarming honesty about his own mistakes and misfortunes, taking his medicine without making faces or asking for sympathy. This is philosophy for people who don't like philosophy: practical, funny, and suffused with hope. It endures because it reminds us that a positive outlook isn't naive, it's a choice we make along the road.