This is an enjoyable series of essays by Voltaire on a range of subjects, but with an emphasis on morality and religion. The wit is still enough to draw a guffaw, even when some of the contemporary or historical details are unfamiliar. And Voltaire's observations on humanity, idolatry and Christianity are as relevant today as they were in the 1700s. ( )

A hit-and-miss collection of satirical polemics from the French philosopher. A lot get tied down in discussions of theological dogma which are less relevant today with church attendances down, and whilst a few of the short essays are gems a lot of the stuff can be skim-read. Due to the archaic nature of the writing and the often non-topical subject matter, it's sometimes hard to gauge the extent to which Voltaire is being sarcastic or sincere. Unlike Candide or Mahomet, where the very nature of the texts directs you onto clear runnels of biting cynicism, the reader is often left to find their own way in these short pieces. Much of the impact is therefore lost, which is a disappointment after the exceptional Candide and the nakedly angry Mahomet. Because of this dilution I considered giving the book a lower rating than I did, but Voltaire still fires off enough worthy salvoes to pound the shorelines of idiocy, even if he doesn't make many forays inland. ( )