This book is truly a work of art, for its simplicity and the beauty of the verses. From the first page to the last, the reader is guided through the life of a man from birth, young manhood, adulthood, middle age, old age, and finally, physical death. An enchanting evening read. I recommend this book to those who appreciate class and beauty. Anyone with a bit of an understanding towards life would enjoy it. Being Persian myslef, and knowledgable towards the history of Omar Khayyam and his time, I read this book in Persian, English and French. Although I think that without doubt anyone who is able to should read the Persian edition, the English translation did not lose the touch and certain charm of the works. Dont underestimate your children either. I mean hey, give it a shot, they might like it! Checking out of a supermarket recently with only a newspaper, a bottle of wine, and a long loaf of French bread, I remarked to the clerk, All we need is thou sitting beside me in the wilderness. She looked at me as if I had either lost my mind or was suggesting an indecent proposal. Can our education have slipped so far that high schoolers no longer sigh over this marvelous book? These four line verses contain a wealth of thoughts and revealations which can be found no where else in literature. No home should be with out Omar the Tentmaker, who has, after all, been advising us since 1151 and still beats the sindicated columnists. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is a classic poem, which sings to the better angels of the human spirit. Far from a paen to drinking, the poem is a deep spiritual meditation. Look deeply into Omar the tentmakers poem, with your mind open to the spirit underlying the poem, and you will find the one true Light. This edition is particularly good, because it contains Fitzgeralds translations. I highly recommend this poem to anyone open to beautiful poetry and Truth.