Mark Twain's Helpful Hints for Good Living

Some of Twain's funniest advice/opinions!

What did you like best about this story?

I have read almost all of Twain's books over the years. What I so liked about this one is that some of the best snippets are taken from his many and varied writings and presented under the tongue-in-cheek title of "Helpful Hints for Good Living". Much of the book is amusing in the very least and outrageously funny at times!

What about Grover Gardner’s performance did you like?

Gardner's reading is a bit quick at times. It is not what I would call restful. But then, it is fitting for the subject matter. I feel as though Twain might have narrated that way too.

Any additional comments?

If you like Mark Twain, you will like this collection. If you are unfamiliar with Twain, this may give you some idea of what his various books are like as you hear selections from them.

11 people found this helpful

Good Living, Good Listening

Any additional comments?

Bravo to the academics who collated and collected Twain essays for this piece, and bravo that it finally has become an audio book. Twain's mellifluous linguistic prestidigitation benefits greatly from oral application, and this engaging dispensation satiates and satisfies both in intensity and dosage. Apply liberally.

5 people found this helpful

Mark Twain is Hilarious!

Mark Twain is insightful and funny and no matter how much time passes his work will still be relevant. He just gets people, and he knows how to take everyday stories and bring out the humor in them. I loved it!

30 people found this helpful

Wonderful!

I enjoyed the way the material was introduced and organized. Twain's stories are a pleasure to hear and the narrator did an excellent job of not over-playing his character, which would be a natural temptation considering the author's larger than life persona and his lively, colorful stories.

3 people found this helpful

good read, not for listening

What disappointed you about Mark Twain's Helpful Hints for Good Living?

Would be a great reference book for quotes, not really a book to listen to.

10 people found this helpful

Classic humor

The reader was fantastic and you can't beat the timeless classic comedy of Mark Twain.

2 people found this helpful

A real hoot!

From now on, whenever the damned human race drives me crazy, this the book I'll be reaching for.
These here Mark Twain scholars have put together a delightful collection of anecdotes, stories, wit, and wisdom from the pen of the man himself. No one else could have written this stuff. It's funny, irreverent, insightful, and cantankerous. Real fun.
Plus, they got Grover Gardner to read it, and ya' can't do better than that.

8 people found this helpful

Silly and funny

I didn't realize that Mark Twain had such a witty and whimsical writing style. The book is filled with random stories of seeing life from a different perspective (not really a handbook). It contains silly suggestions like "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." It's an entertaining little book.

9 people found this helpful

LOVE Twain, just not this

Any additional comments?

I love Twain and one quip can make the whole listen worthwhile. All in all, I really struggled to finish this one which surprised me.

1 person found this helpful

Horrible, horrible, bad, bad, bad

I'm a huge Twain fan, but not of this audio "book". This is a compilation of Mark Twain's writings put together by a bunch of editors. Purchased on special for $1.99 I feel ripped off.

11 people found this helpful