What Is Man? And Other Stories

What Is Man? In this thought-provoking and philosophical piece Twain delves into the fundamental questions about human nature free will and the nature of existence. The essay presents a conversation between an old man and a young man exploring their differing views on whether humans have free will or are merely products of their environments and circumstances. Apart from the titular essay the collection includes various short stories and sketches each demonstrating Twains trademark storytelling and satirical style. Some of the notable stories in the collection include: The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County: One of Twains most famous stories it is a humorous tale of a frog-jumping contest in a small town. The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg: A biting satire on human hypocrisy and the corrupting influence of wealth and temptation. The $30000 Bequest: A comic story about a couple who come into a sizable inheritance but find that it brings them more trouble than happiness. Luck: A short story in which Twain explores the concept of luck and its effects on peoples lives.