What Is Man? [Paperback]

Mark Twain (Author)

Book Description

Series: Green Integer | Publication Date: September 15, 1999

Mark Twain's long dialogue about the nature of mankind.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

**Performed by 2001 Grammy nominated Carl Reiner, for Best Performance in spoken word audio, for Mark Twain's Letters from Earth.** --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

Is man nothing more than a machine, incapable of free will? What are the factors shaping his actions and decisions? Mark Twain entertainingly posed and answered these questions in a volume published anonymously. Twain's biting view of mankind spares no one, but it contains rays of hope. Carl Reiner takes the roles of both teacher and pupil in Twain's Socratic dialogue. Reiner captures both the humor and the serious underpinnings of Twain's work, although in giving the more natural voice to the teacher while making the student seem unbelievably naive, Reiner tips the scales toward the cynical view. This audio production will provide much thought, as well as laughter. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 100 pages
• Publisher: Green Integer (September 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892295156
• ISBN-13: 978-1892295156
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 4.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,651,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark Twain (1835-1910) was an American humorist, satirist, social critic, lecturer and novelist. He is mostly remembered for his classic novels The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The American 'Free Will', January 8, 2011

By 

Jerry - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Is Man? (Paperback)

This essay was introduced to me through a blog about the philosophical question of 'free will'. At first glance, I thought I was being entertained by another one Twain's latest satires. Instead, I felt like I was engaged in a modern lecture between a seasoned philosophy professor and his most accomplished student.

Through the dialogue, you get a sense that this piece of writing is the epitome of Samuel Clemen's look on life, although debatable. Regardless of how you feel at the end of the essay, if read carefully, you will at least question your own daily motives and perhaps everyone else's that has come before you. I have been trained to thoroughly enjoy this read.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It takes all kinds... Twain reveals how, March 10, 2005

By 

Victoria A. Ranua (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Is Man? (Paperback)

Mark Twain has a knack for explaining reality without any of its grand notions. That's why I love this book. It's a bible that you can read in one sitting and reveals why people act as they do. Unlike the other reviewer, I know you can be a happy person before reading this book and come out the other end a happy person.

2.0 out of 5 stars what is man review, September 12, 2011

By 

ELSIE DEE (NEW YORK USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What Is Man? (Paperback)

Virtually impossible for me to read...print way too tiny, even with my magnifier.
Amazon might have mentioned this. Warn readers of tiny print.