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amberduffus's review against another edition
4.0
One of the first classics I’ve read in a while, and what a way to start. Twain has a constant satirical yet philosophical voice as he writes the conversation between Old Man and Young Man. His writing is accessible and easy to read despite being published so long ago.
uditnair24's review against another edition
4.0
It's a delightful read in the philosophical realm of understanding what really humanity is. Here Mark Twain tries to present some of his convictions regarding mankind. The book is in the form of conversation between two individuals who are young and old man respectively.
Mark Twain believes that what he is professing is not a philosophy but indeed a fact. One of the central themes of the book can be seen in this paragraph-
"Man the machine—man the impersonal engine. Whatsoever a man is, is due to his MAKE, and to the INFLUENCES brought to bear upon it by his heredities, his habitat, his associations. He is moved, directed, COMMANDED, by EXTERIOR influences—SOLELY. He ORIGINATES nothing, not even a thought."
Another thing highlighted in the book is that every act done by man is to satisfy or content his own spirit and to win it's own approval. A lot of time is spent in explaining how every act is catered towards securing own peace of mind and every other consideration is secondary and indeed catered towards fulfilling the first goal. Mark Twain suggests this very approval or the principle can be termed as conscience.
In the later parts it was great to see how Mark Twain suggests that the intellectual stature of man and other beasts is mostly the same. He alludes this in this line-
" Man has a finer and more capable machine in him than those others, but it is the same machine and works in the same way."
As a whole the ideas are open to discussion and deliberation but it was surely an interesting read.
Mark Twain believes that what he is professing is not a philosophy but indeed a fact. One of the central themes of the book can be seen in this paragraph-
"Man the machine—man the impersonal engine. Whatsoever a man is, is due to his MAKE, and to the INFLUENCES brought to bear upon it by his heredities, his habitat, his associations. He is moved, directed, COMMANDED, by EXTERIOR influences—SOLELY. He ORIGINATES nothing, not even a thought."
Another thing highlighted in the book is that every act done by man is to satisfy or content his own spirit and to win it's own approval. A lot of time is spent in explaining how every act is catered towards securing own peace of mind and every other consideration is secondary and indeed catered towards fulfilling the first goal. Mark Twain suggests this very approval or the principle can be termed as conscience.
In the later parts it was great to see how Mark Twain suggests that the intellectual stature of man and other beasts is mostly the same. He alludes this in this line-
" Man has a finer and more capable machine in him than those others, but it is the same machine and works in the same way."
As a whole the ideas are open to discussion and deliberation but it was surely an interesting read.
feminist_mayhem's review against another edition
4.0
Quick, witty read. I don't agree with all of his deductions, but it certainly gives one something to think about.
lipsandpalms's review against another edition
3.0
Twain makes some good points confirming what I believe: that man is simply a biological machine with no free will. That being said, his arguments are opposed by a strawman antagonist who presents examples that are easily defeated. I know this is just a device to further explain and possibly represent a skeptical reader, but at the same time I wasn't convinced it was originating a truly differing perspective. Twain also misses some points.
Yes everyone acts in accordance with their own moral compass bestowed upon them from their environment and genetics. They do things for their own gain first. Does that mean no one contributes? Not at all. Just because you do not originate an idea doesn't mean that your actions are worthless. Yes you're a machine but you're a gear in the complex machine of society, fulfilling your role, for better or worse. Our perceptive consciousness is just along for the ride.
A solider craves praise and a young boy avoids punishment. These are societal mechanisms that ensure the continuation of the species. It's not something to gawk at or be astonished by.
"You don't want the thing. You want the satisfaction the thing brings you". Well, that's obvious. When I'm playing the board game Monopoly, I want the monopoly money because it has value while I play. After the game is over, the money is worthless. Why this factoid would astonish anyone is beyond me.
It's a decent read for anyone curious about free will but too much of the unanswered questions about existence are answered by the God solution which I can't agree with. Some of the points he makes ramble on as well, but I'd recommend it
Yes everyone acts in accordance with their own moral compass bestowed upon them from their environment and genetics. They do things for their own gain first. Does that mean no one contributes? Not at all. Just because you do not originate an idea doesn't mean that your actions are worthless. Yes you're a machine but you're a gear in the complex machine of society, fulfilling your role, for better or worse. Our perceptive consciousness is just along for the ride.
A solider craves praise and a young boy avoids punishment. These are societal mechanisms that ensure the continuation of the species. It's not something to gawk at or be astonished by.
"You don't want the thing. You want the satisfaction the thing brings you". Well, that's obvious. When I'm playing the board game Monopoly, I want the monopoly money because it has value while I play. After the game is over, the money is worthless. Why this factoid would astonish anyone is beyond me.
It's a decent read for anyone curious about free will but too much of the unanswered questions about existence are answered by the God solution which I can't agree with. Some of the points he makes ramble on as well, but I'd recommend it
steven_nobody's review against another edition
5.0
I hope that you don't think I'm a contrarian, but this is probably my favorite work by Mark Twain. It's a work of philosophy that covers a wide range of ideas. I think one of my favorite concepts is that animals are the Unrevealed Creatures.
ajaneb's review against another edition
4.0
there were a lot of holes, I think, but it was wonderfully weird and the ant part was mind-boggling.
awwsunshine's review against another edition
4.0
This has been my first Mark Twain reading and I am glad because I loved it but now the bar is really high (althought it is not as if it weren't before).
This talks about the human condition; how humans aren't really free and everything we do is primarily for our personal satisfaction, even if it is in a subconscious way.
This kind of fucked me up but in a good way!
This talks about the human condition; how humans aren't really free and everything we do is primarily for our personal satisfaction, even if it is in a subconscious way.
This kind of fucked me up but in a good way!