[In the following review, McMurray asserts that although Misterios de la vida diaria is well written, it explores historical Mexican issues that are of little interest to contemporary readers.]

One of Mexico's most distinguished writers of his generation, Jorge Ibargüengoitia died in a plane crash in 1983 at the age of fifty-five. He is perhaps best remembered for his satire, an example of which is his hilarious novel about the Mexican Revolution, Los relámpagos de agosto (1964).

Misterios de la vida diaria consists of selected articles Ibargüengoitia published in Excelsior between 1968 and 1976. The book is divided into five sections, which in their entirety convey trenchant comments on issues of interest at the time of their publication. The tone of these pieces ranges from the humorous, the ironic, and the absurd to the serious, the critical, and the nostalgic.

Under the heading “En el orden acostumbrado” the author discusses a variety of topics, including Mexicans' skepticism of the weather forecasts and of the official media in general; the telephone, which has all but replaced the mail service; the cocktail party, where guests make a beeline for the booze to smother their boredom; and Rosario Castellanos's tragic, untimely demise.

“Cómo educar a los hijos,” the second section, is highly critical of the national education system. After visiting several grade schools, Ibargüengoitia concludes. “Lo que me extraña es que los niños no hayan quemado todas las escuelas.” But the author's strongest criticism is leveled at the state universities, especially the UNAM, where defects include the lack of funding and poorly paid professors. Another problem is the annual tuition of only 200 pesos, a sum appropriate for the poor but not high enough for the affluent.

As its title suggests, “Homenaje al comercio” contains Ibargüengoitia's thoughts on business practices in his native land. The importance of Christmas to the national economy will sound a familiar note to the American reader, and the anecdote about la plataforma de terciopelo, a useless gift passed from hand to hand over the years, illustrates Ibargüengoitia's penchant for the absurd. Another amusing article, with serious undertones, describes an American auto-parts company's purchase of a chile factory in Mexico and the disastrous results.

Under the headings “Escaparate nacional” and “Los sucesos y los comentarios” Ibargüengoitia presents his views on a broad range of topics, some of which are la mordida, the art of carrying out police raids (make sure no influential person is among young quarry), the acute shortage of taxis in the national capital, and the increasing tension at the UNAM (leading up to the Tlatelolco massacre). Perhaps the most critical article, “La tapadología,” reveals the author's cynical attitude toward Mexico's “democracy,” because the PRI presidential candidates do not seek the vote of the electores but rather that of the Elector.

Although Misterios de la vida diaria does on occasion display flashes of wit, it is overall a rather serious book conveying the author's disenchantment with conditions in Mexico. Some of the subjects treated, moreover, are of little interest today. And, in this reader's opinion, the date of each article should have been included.