H. G. wells wrote this book as a collection of his own beliefs and fears. In the first book, Wells emphasises his scepticism: neither the senses nor the mind can be relied upon uncritically, and "The world of fact is not what it appears to be". In the second book, devoted to his "essential beliefs",. In the third book, by far the longest and occupying more than half the volume, Wells develops the "rule of life" that he promises in its subtitle. In the final book, Wells offers some personal reflections about love, death, and life.
