These 15 essays are filled with the products of a curious mind, set loose with the time and means to explore anything of interest. They were written under the auspices of the Chicago Literary Club, one of the oldest and most regarded institutions of its kind, and presented, one per year between 2005 and 2019 by the author.The topics range from an exploration of the role of the humble French Fry in global history and culture, to a tour through the Masai Valley of Kenya to explore th...