The Poet at the Breakfast-Table

"The Poet at the Breakfast-Table" by Oliver Wendell Holmes is the third book that captures talks at a boarding house, with characters embodying different aspects of thought and society. It humorously looks at thought, talking, and how knowledge is changing in modern life. The story starts with the main character thinking about self-interviewing to find his ideas, comparing it to looking through a library in his mind. Early talks at the table show characters like the "Member of the Haouse," a funny political person, and the "Scarabaeist," a bug expert, who shows how knowledge is becoming specialized. Holmes's writing shares the fun and smart comments among the boarders, setting the stage for deep talks about who we are, our roles in society, and what it means to be human.