THE ARTS OF LIVING

Gilbert Highet introduces a galaxy of well known authors and other public figures as they appeared on the pages of Vogue during 1951-2-3. Since they are interesting people, their thoughts are sometimes provocative, sometimes stimulating, sometimes enlightening (though in the end one will probably feel he must make his own decision as to his favorite art of living). The twenty bite-sized essays fall into three categories -- those dealing with thinking, those with the central problem of existence itself, those with co-existing with other people. Here are some samples: Oliver La Farge's art is discontent; Rebecca West's, skepticism; Frank Dobie's discovery; Jean Stafford's, accepting oneself; Ernest Dimnet's, concentration; Elizabeth Bowen's, respecting boundaries. Sound like fun? Try it.