In the 1970s, the rock group Kansas sang about how life is "dust in the wind." They could have been quoting the writer of Ecclesiastes whose ancient book of wisdom unwraps three key themes:

• Meaningless, meaningless a look at the futility of wisdom, wishes and work.
• Chasing the wind how desire and deeds are found wanting.
• Under the sun the curses and joys of toil, treasure and termination.

Despite the Teachers' pessimistic tone, in Chasing the Wind author Robert White discovers there's hope at the end of the matter.