Some things in life are greater than the sum of their parts. At first inspection, Scattered Leaves is a collection of short essays on a range of subjects, written over the last decade. But, dig deeper and find that it is also a pricking of the conscience, an invocation of memories and cultural points of reference from 60 years of life and experience. Above all they are Jon Stamford's unique and iconoclastic take on life, the universe and - who knows - maybe everything. All of life is here - comments on the arts, short stories, travel writing, and more - all couched against a background of chaotic family life with teenage children, dogs, guinea pigs and chickens. As the name implies, this book is not a sequential narrative, more something to dip into. Essays are numerous and short. Bite-size if you will. Like a box of chocolates. Dip in. Enjoy.