Three stars for being obviously well crafted, but it seems like Eco is far more in love with, figuratively speaking, the sound of his own voice more so than he is with making a coherent point.

I bought this book without thinking that the essay that I was searching for about St. Thomas is actually here, which made it already worth buying. But more than that, I think the essays here that bring us back to the revolutionary Italy that Eco lived in during the '80s, some snippets of pop culture and urban design (read the Casablanca essay!) really bring out the richness of thought that the author of "The Name of the Rose" bears.

Good; repetitive.

Eco's collection of [by now rather old] essays. Still, they're worth reading; the perfect anecdote to anyone who believes that cultural theory is like eating milkless bran. Sometimes a bit overlong, but there's brilliance sparkled throughout, particularly when writing on California.

I only read the first essay (that was my intention when I found the book), but it was very interesting and thought-provoking and I expect the rest of the book is interesting as well. I just have too many other books to finish before I can pick this up again!

can't remember much of this book except for the essay on watching sport which I love.

Same as all Eco, smart, thoughtful and well written