The Book of This and That

"The Book of This and That" by Robert Lynd is a compilation of essays from the early 1900s that looks at different topics, such as what people are like, how society works, and the funny parts of life. It is written in a smart and observant style. The book starts by talking about the bad parts of being suspicious and how it can hurt relationships and society. Lynd describes suspicion as a negative thing that can mess up how we see things and make us distrust each other. He compares suspicion in personal relationships to how it shows up in society, criticizing a world where people often doubt things without good reason. This sets the stage for a discussion about human feelings and problems in society that continues throughout the book.