"A powerful collection of essays." The Economist "In special cases, one closes a book with the mind churning, stirred by the arguments within. In still rarer cases, one sets down the book and is moved by the spirit and character of its author. This is one such book." -- Robert Legvold Foreign Affairs "[Michnik] is the finest champion of everything that has been achieved [in Poland], an eloquent expositor of the moral issues that underlie the conflicts of his lifetime. His latest collection of essays, In Search of Lost Meaning, does not disappoint." -- Norman Davies New York Review Of Books "This profoundly important book throws light not only on recent events, but also on the thinking of one of their most important protagonists." Foreword "Serious inquiry supports civility in public life, inquisition damages it, and whatever reservations some might have about his positions on particular issues, these essays show Michnik to be very much a mainstay of that civility." -- Walter D. Connor First Things "Michnik's book is ... a balanced and insightful treatment of the lessons of history and the notions of power and politics. It is a well-written, erudite work that deserves to be read and reflected upon." -- Joseph Sampson Law Society Journal