“To choose the best among the many good is one of the most hazardous attempts of criticism.” Samuel Johnson’s words apply to this fat collection of his work: poems, plays, essays, and of course, his DICTIONARY. Johnson’s life was a rocky one with heartbreak and poverty and illness dogging all his attempts to succeed as a writer. That Johnson became the legendary writer of his era and can be read with profit today is a testament to his grit and determination.