\' These essays] reflect a lively, unselfconscious, rigorous, erudite, and earnestly open mind that\'s busy refining its view of life, literature, and a great deal in between.\' --Los Angeles Times Spl.... \' These essays] reflect a lively, unselfconscious, rigorous, erudite, and earnestly open mind that\'s busy refining its view of life, literature, and a great deal in between.\' --Los Angeles Times Spl...