The Opinions of a Philosopher

"The Opinions of a Philosopher" by Robert Grant is a funny story from the 1800s told by Fred, a regular guy who suddenly thinks he's a philosopher, as he shares his messy middle-class family life with his wife, Josephine, and their four kids. It dives into what it means to have your own ideas about life, how to raise kids, being married, and what society expects, all while making fun of family drama through the eyes of a man trying to figure out his place in it. We meet Fred as he comically thinks about his new belief system as he gets older, looking at his wife's church habits and their wild kids, especially his son Fred's trouble with a fisherman. Grant makes the everyday chaos of family hilarious, as Fred is trying to live up to his own smart ideas and provides a lighthearted beginning as he deals with his home troubles with both understanding and funny thoughts.