'Wilderness Tips' is a wander through various perspectives on life at large. It is a collection of short stories which looks at the way in which a random selection of people make sense of the lives around them, always addressing the basic human emotions which affect almost every member of the human race. This collection of stories includes 'The Bog Man', the tale of a leathery ancestor who becomes the metaphorical embodiment of a love affair gone cold; 'True Trash', about a summer camp infatuation which results in a pregnancy where the real surprise is in the paternity; and 'Uncles' which tells of a young girl's progress from childhood to a glittering career, with the guardian angel-like presence of her magnanimous uncles always in evidence, despite the malign attempts by some to sabotage her success. This is a typically unpretentious, yet beautiful piece of work by Atwood which will be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates the distinctive writing style of this author. Although I prefer her novels, this book appealed to me because of the many different layers of life it uncovers, and I would recommend it to anyone.