Men, Machines and Sacred Cows is a 1984 collection of essays by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, many originally delivered as lectures.
Ashby felt the essays demonstrated Philip's "mastering this minor art form" of lecturing to associations, professional bodies, and institutes.
Ashby highlights the first essay in the collection which is a "witty but robust defence of individuality" that rebukes those who place "political theories and economic and educational systems into a higher priority than the people these things are supposed to serve".
[1] Jon Nordheimer, in the New York Times, wrote that the Prince "uses aplomb and humor to paint broad pictures of British politicians, ecologists and polo players, among others" and the book gave him the chance to "cast a sardonic eye on his own foibles as well as those of others".
[3] Philip acknowledges the risks of using humour in making political points feeling that "Trying to be funny is a great deal more difficult than trying to be serious.