Mentioning Ernest Cassirer the first thing comes to our mind is 'symbolic form'. This concept has been widely quoted and variously explained, particular after publication of Professor Wood's translation of Panofsky's essay on perspective. However the concept of symbolic form remains illusive. Very few had the courage to tackle Cassirer's three volume treatise. This little gem, an essay on man, is quite readable and give a wonderful introduction to Cassirer's philosophy.