A collection of eleven short nonfiction works in the public domain. The items included in this collection were independently selected by the readers, and the topics encompass history, conservation, philosophy, politics, religion and cooking. Included in this collection are Thomas Jefferson's first Inaugural Address, "Secession" by Alexander H. Stephens, "Of Truth" and the preface to "The New Organon, or True Directions Concerning the Interpretation of Nature" by Francis Bacon, John Donne's last sermon delivered in March 1631, "On Old Age" by Cicero, a chapter from "The Fight for Conservation" by Gifford Pinchot, The Sacredness of Work" by Thomas Carlyle and an essay "On the Unjust Causes of War" by Hugo Grotius. On the lighter side, try selections from "Cocoa and Chocolate Recipes" by Miss Parloa and a 1912 article from Scientific American on the amazing escapes of Harry Houdini. (summary by J. M. Smallheer)