本书精心挑选了一些蕴涵哲理与情感的小短文，将它们按不同主题分类成章。每篇短文均配有详细注解，并且运用篇章语言学的理论设计了一些相关的练习题，以帮助读者更好地理解文章结构和大意。本书可作为本科低年级学生的泛读教材，也可供具有初级以上英语水平的英语爱好者自学英语，休闲娱乐之用。

Preface
Introduction
Part I Read Batween the Lines for Conversational Implicatures
I A Laconic Answer
II Weird Coincedence
III Are You Enjoying the Film?
IV What on Earth Is He Talking about?
V The Cows Are Crying
VI Politeness and Tact
VII Who Tops Them All?
VIII Politicians'Lie
IX Mr.and Mrs.Pologize
X Real Beer
XI Be Both Kind and Honest
XII Three Beers
XIII The Fastest Train in the World
XIV Why Are You Crying?
XV A Catholic Service
VVI The Art Collector
XVII You've Just Thrown the Wrong Bitch out of the Window
XVIII Fish in a Barrel
XIX Unexpected Situation
XX Do You Know My Work?
XXI What Was the Campaign Politician's Stance?
XXII A Dear John Letter
XXIII A Faux Pas
XXIV Does the Early Bird Get the Worm?
XXV Chrales Makes a Complete Apology
XXVI Dr.Swift and the Boy
Part II Read Between the Lines for General Implications
Part III Read Between the Lines for Writers' Views or Prposes
Part IV Read Between the Lines for Understood Conclusions
主要参考书目