In this posthumous collection of essays selected by the author (d. 1988) from pieces originally appearing in the Turin newspaper La Stampa, Levi treats subjects as diverse as writing, fear, insects, word processors, exams, and chess. A majority of the pieces concern nature, from microscopic creatures to the stars, and trace how our knowledge of specific natural phenomena has evolved throughout history. While Levi values the imagination, he underscores the importance of acquiring knowledge of the physical world and remains filled with wonder at the spectacle before us. The book's title is somewhat misleading, because many of the essays (like most of Levi's oeuvre) are autobiographical, derived from childhood memories, people he has known, and his experiences as a scientist and writer. Throughout, Levi manifests a considerable and exacting knowledge of a broad range of subjects and a painstaking effort to organize his material not by formulating facile analogies but by drawing fine distinctions. At times, he approaches the conceptual complexity and philosophical depth of Borges; elsewhere, his obsession with creating catalogues and taxonomies becomes tedious and of unclear motivation. Certain of the essays are long on concrete description and short on ideas; one longs for greater elaboration of themes often introduced only in the closing lines. in general, Levi's penchant for ""reading with a magnifying glass"" results in prose to be savored for its rare combination of patient observation, expansive imagination, and underlying humanity. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

It is almost two years since Italian writer Primo Levi ( The Periodic Table ; Survival in Auschwitz ) committed suicide by throwing himself down the stairwell of the house in Turin where he had lived his entire life. Here, to the delight of his devotees, are 43 brief, elegant essays on subjects that aroused and amused him: birds, insects, frogs, parasites, pain, sidewalks, Rabelais, imaginary animals, the fear of snakes, qualities common to chess and poetry, children's games, using a word processor for the first time, going back to school at 60, uncertainty about the future, psychological exams, the language of chemists, obscure writing (German poets Trakl and Celan, both of whom committed suicide). These witty, charming pieces confirm Levi's position as one of the most gifted writers of our time. Reader's Subscription Book Club alternate. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Trained as a chemist in Italy, Levi was deported to Auschwitz in 1944. His experiences in the death camps and his subsequent careers as a chemist, author, and classicist are reflected in this volume of essays, selected before his death in 1987. They form a fitting tribute to Levi's spirit and love of life. Writing from his house in Turin, he artfully explores the realms of nature in ``Butterflies,'' ``Beetles,'' ``Inventing an Animal,'' ``The Leap of a Flea,'' and ``Frogs on the Moon.'' His reflections on civilization are featured in the varied pieces on unrequited love, using a word processor for the first time, Rabelais, psychological testing, playing games, returning to school at 60, and the need for fear. This is clear, precise writing filled with wonder and curiosity.-- Molly Abramowitz, Silver Spring, Md. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.