A lyrical collection of essays reflecting the diverse interests and accomplishments of Primo Levi, offers forays into zoology, astronomy, linguistics, literature, and philosophy. Witty, charming, erudite, always lucid, and supremely graceful on the varied subjects that fascinated him: the hose that he lived in all of his life and galaxies unimaginably remote; butterflies, beetles, and fleas; children's imaginary monsters and their nonverbal civilization of play; the mysteries of fire and electricity and the delightful challenges of returning to school at the age of sixty; his reflections on the lessons of life learned as a chemist and the pleasures of the mind.

(Key Words: Italy, Essays, Primo Levi, Fleas, Insects, Francois Rabelais, Spiders, Laughter, Butterflies, Beetles, Turin, Torino, Chess, Chemistry, Italian Literature).