
A lively, conversational essay collection that asks the simple yet unsettling question: what is wrong with the world? The writer tackles familiar social theories with wit and a touch of paradox, turning ordinary observations into sharp‑pointed commentary. Readers are drawn in by the blend of humor, anecdote, and a restless curiosity that refuses easy answers.
The first sections dismantle the habit of treating nations and societies like single organisms, warning against the temptation to diagnose a social “disease” before ever considering a cure. By exposing the absurdity of metaphors that turn countries into lions or centipedes, the author invites us to look at human communities as the messy, individual‑driven collections they truly are. The essays promise thoughtful provocation without ever revealing the final conclusions, leaving listeners eager to follow the argument’s unfolding.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (334K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Georges Allaire, Martin Ward, and David Widger
Release date
1999-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1874–1936
Best known for creating Father Brown, this English writer brought wit, paradox, and a love of argument to everything from detective stories to essays and Christian apologetics. His books are lively, funny, and often surprisingly modern in the questions they ask.
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