This is possibly my very favourite collection of GKC essays. It includes, among other gems, On Lying In Bed and A Piece Of Chalk. The review copy I received from Early Reviewers seemed much thinner than my old copy. When I finally managed to corral the two in one place and compare them essay by essay, the 21st century editors proved to have omitted the essays on obscure now-historical events and personages of the early 20th century. This is a distinct improvement. ( )

On Tremendous Trifles generally: this book, like All Things Considered, is a collection of Chesteron's newspaper columns. Chesteron's essays are a great introduction to his topsy-turvy world, so this is not a bad place to start if you're new to his work. On the Hesperus paperback edition (which I received as a LibraryThing Early Reviewer) specifically: this is an attractive paperback edition well-suited to gift-giving. It's also clearly designed to be read, given the book flaps designed to serve as bookmarks. That's not how I roll, and I will be giving this copy away, but if you like that sort of thing you should buy this edition. ( )

What's not to love about a collection of Chesterton's funny, charming, touching, meditative, clever essays? This is a book for carrying with you--as I've been doing for a few weeks now--and dipping into whenever you have a moment. It is sheer delight for Chesterton fans, and a great introduction to Chesterton for those who haven't met him yet. ( )

This book shares a lot in common with the Seinfeld—they’re both essentially works about nothing (at least nothing we’d consider worth considering). Tremendous Trifles is a collection of short essays on the things most of us wouldn’t pause to think twice about.

In Chesterton’s able hands, topics such as the detritus in one’s pocket or the magnificence of a blank canvas (otherwise known as a ceiling) reach sublime heights. It’s wonderful to think that the most meaningless items in life are worth (at least) 1,250 words and a column in the local newspaper.

Some might accuse Chesterton of excessive indulgence. You either love his verbose style or hate it. I enjoy slowing down to the leisurely pace he sets.

Since there are numerous editions of Tremendous Trifles around, I should make a few notes about this Hesperus edition. The binding holds together well, the text is crisp, the cover’s cleanly designed, and there’s handy fold-overs on the front and back cover to mark your place. This is the sort of quality paperback that makes you want to buy the rest of the publisher’s set.

Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided at no cost through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer’s program. ( )

This is a small, slender trade paperback from Hesperus Press, which just feels pleasant to the hand, with its matte finish and front and back flaps. It is foreworded by Ben Schott - who is clearly someone I need to follow up on soon; the foreword was as much fun as one of the essays.

And when I say it's as much fun, that's a tremendous compliment, because these essays are great fun. I've laughed out loud reading them more often than during any other book I can think of recently; the best word I can associate with this book is "delight". A turn of phrase here, the turning upside down of a phrase there, a philosophical conceit somewhere, a purely GKC insult elsewhere - I love it.

Throughout, the essays provoke laughter, and nodding of my head, and blank stares as a new way of looking at things unwinds behind my eyes. They're essays about his sprained ankle - and thus the advantages of having a leg; and the wind in the trees, or is it the trees in the wind?; and a cab-man's mistake, which becomes a metaphysical question about what is real. There is the hansom cab that throws him out, and the cows which gather to consult about his strange behavior, and the croquet game which alarms him (which was one of my favorites), and, of course, his pocket contents ... I would start listing my favorite quotes, but that would entail most of the book. What a wonderful treasure this book is.

http://agoldoffish.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/the-world-will-never-starve-for-want... ( )