In this book, you will find three things: a funny argument, a clever trick, or a rare and amazing benefit. You will laugh at it if you wish, and have fun if you get bored with seriousness. Al-Jahiz portrayed misers in a sensual and realistic manner, sometimes going too far. He derived this from his environment, his acquaintances, and those who heard about them, especially in his hometown of Marv, the capital of Khorasan. He revealed their psychology and analyzed them with a logical and humorous analysis. He depicted their movements and actions, their suspicious looks, their tricks and the secrets of their homes, their natures and behaviors, informing readers of their secret conversations and inner selves. He does not condemn their actions, but rather presents their economical and greedy way of spending money. Al-Jahiz divided his book into short, humorous stories, narrating an incident or a piece of news about misers, told by a brave knight, a caliph and his ministers, common people, concubines and slave girls, vagabonds and scoundrels. Al-Jahiz wove the fabric of his society at that time with his words, using colloquial expressions common at the time of his writing, thus documenting a rich picture of society.