MARK TWAIN'S HELPFUL HINTS FOR GOOD LIVING A Handbook for the Damned Human Race

“. . . Providence protects children and idiots. . . . I know it because I have tested it.” This smart presentation of some of Mark Twain’s best known and hard-to-find short works and anecdotes is a wonderful introduction to his finely honed observational skills and irreverence. With playful chapter titles such as “Everyday Etiquette,” “Travel Manners,” and “In Case of Emergency” (which includes the laugh-out-loud childhood reminiscence “Playing Bear”), Twain’s singular voice and sense of humor come through loud and clear. There’s no question that these pieces were meant to be read aloud, and Grover Gardner delivers them with a appreciation and respect, sometimes having to hold back his own laughter. The freshness of Mark Twain’s words leaves no doubt about why he remains an American treasure. B.P. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2012]