Some fields have that one guy who is a great mind but a lousy writer. Peirce, self admittedly was that. Trying to "pierce Peirce" can become a lifetime achievement award with all his many unusual terms and seeming twists of meaning. Reading Peirce (pronounced "purse") requires a program to keep up with all the names and meanings...This book is that program. In a short, and tightly written text, the author explains the evolving nature of Peirce's terminology (which tended to evolve with his shifting thoughts on semiotics) starting with his worldview of how he saw the different studies fitting together. If you're a note taker like me, then reading this book can be slow going at times. There is just a lot of stuff to understand. But if you want to get a solid background on Peirce before delving into his own work this is an abosolute must. It has made reading Peirce's own writing much easier and much more valuable. Kudos to Liska for writing such a clear, concise, yet complete book. Reading this book first will save you years of frustration trying to figure out Peirce purely from his own confusing words.
