Upon seeing this new volume by Barnes, I instantly ordered it, raced down the bookshop when it arrived, and made it my next read. I confess to being disappointed when I got it – it is so small – 57 small pages. But it’s Barnes, so it was, to me, essential reading, even if it took very little time.
The five essays are each very brief and read more like diary entries than true essays. Barnes explores favourite topics – memories, books, and words – and delves into politics and time. Perhaps these reflect his advancing years; perhaps he’s interested, as a man of letters, in having some of his wisdom captured for posterity. Regardless, the brevity of the essays was confusing and disappointing: what is this book for? Despite the promise of the title, Barnes’ own words suggest he’s changed his mind very little, and much of that is rooted in fairly ordinary life experience rather than deep introspection of significant revelation.
I did delight in the “Words” essay, and his derision for those who misuse words, especially “fulsome” (which doesn’t mean what people think it means), an especial pet peeve of mine. Similarly, his commentary about AI – how technology itself is morally neutral, and only acquires its properties of good or evil in how it is implemented by humans – aligns with my own prevailing philosophy. Any innovation has only the purpose that we give it, and the application has morality based on intent and outcome; depending on the user and purpose, a baseball bat can be an implement of sport and fun or of damage and violence.
While the writing was excellent, typically Barnesian, I found the collection overall to be frivolous and trifling; I don’t understand the purpose in publishing these as they don’t live up to the title. They seem to reflect more some top-of-mind current thoughts, perhaps some bases for larger discussion, but offer little enlightenment of either subject or object. Disappointingly, these essays are not even new – they were part of a BBC series in 2016 – so I feel a bit ripped off, having looked forward to new Barnes writing.
Fate: I’ll likely keep this as it’s so slim, but I’m unlikely to read it again so may change my mind.
4 – published in 2025
10 – essays
30 – philosophy
31 – politics
rclr 
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