ESPECIALLY if you’re currently smoking cigarettes, I can’t recommend making the switch to pipes strongly enough. There’s more paraphernalia, prep time, technique, sophistication, what have you…

The thing about a pipe is that you really can’t smoke it habitually, you have to plan for it, and relax while doing it. Also, the flavor of the smoke is strong enough that you don’t really need to inhale, so it’s marginally healthier for you.

I’ve been given to understand that pipe smokers on the average live about as long as non-smokers, and a good deal longer than cigarette smokers.