Homer's stories and poetry are very old; Greek plays almost as. Gutenberg pressed words onto paper in 1450. By 1572 the essay was still in hiding (Montaigne, France); nearly last onto the literary scene. Curious. The essay's reputation has often suffered relative to its older siblings. But it need not. For the essay has no need to supplant nor replace any other literary form; it can, and best lives in perfect complimentary harmony with literature's entirety. For the essay has several built in strengths and charms. May my listing of them here enrich your reading and appreciation herein: - Their brevity corresponds with contemporary attention spans and schedules. Have you ever had more to do? And smaller reading fragments? Enough said. - Profundity, humor, and interest rest in the author's hand equally in all forms; but sheer quantity of ideas zeniths with the essay. Each new page can bring the reader to whole new vistas. The novelist is constrained by narrative, character, etc. and can not possibly keep pace. If you want scope.... - Because of the above mentioned volume and breadth of ideas, the reader can be expanded faster ... and in more directions. - The mind, psyche, and consciousness of the author is revealed ... faster - a rapidly peeled onion. Quality reading is rewarded ... Shakespeare would approve. - The bite-sized portions are better read aloud to loved ones. - The "open anywhere" quality can allow for magic, it-was-meant- to-be moments. What fun and reading novelty to open anywhere and go And now is the time to do so. May you be enriched.