Five timeless and contemporary texts that aim to seriously challenge the 21st-century citizen about the ethics of our times. In the most personal of these, Eco recalls the liberation of his country from fascism, examines its historical forms, and analyzes its most heinous manifestations in our days. From the drama of war to the mass media, from the intervention of intellectuals against racism, totalitarianism, and fundamentalism to the intolerance of people towards foreigners and immigrants, these five human-centered essays seek to reposition critical issues on an ethical basis and to spark a constructive dialogue among people around the world.