This book collects seven recent essays by critically-acclaimed poet Eric Greinke that assert the value of poetry in human progress. These essays have been selected and reprinted from pieces that were originally published by a variety of literary magazines such as The Home Planet News, The Small Press Review and The Grand Valley Review. Greinke examines our basic assumptions about poetics, social stratification in the literary world, accessibility and related issues with unique insight and humor. Greinke's proge, like his poetry, ranges from the philosophical to the satiric. (ie: In Toward a New Eclecticism, he makes an impassioned case for tolerance, diversity and self criticism. In Explication of Life, he gives us a four page tongue-in-cheek explication of a five-word poem entitled Life.) Thought-provoking yet entertaining, this book is a small package that contains numerous big ideas. Taken together, these essays build a strong case for poetic freedom and eclecticism.