On the Decay of the Art of Lying

Read this short essay waiting in my doctor's office and laughed the whole way. For those of us who think they never lie, think again! Mark Twain has an interesting way of defining the lie, which makes us all guilty! Fun to read and makes you think a lot about the way we humans interact with one another.

Besides being a great example of rib-splitting, tongue in cheek satire sure to offend the intended audience, it holds itself even today (and I am sure for many generations to come) as an extraordinary and useful guide to the proper art of lying. Ignore it at your own peril.

Brilliant!

Enjoyed the voice of the author. The language was tongue-in-cheek and provocative. Provided a lot of critical insights about what people think about lying in general. Made me reflect on this topic and come to some understandings about lying and truth.

Enjoyed the voice of the author. The language was tongue-in-cheek and provocative. Provided a lot of critical insights about what people think about lying in general. Made me reflect on this topic and come to some understandings about lying and truth.

As always, Twain is making fun of all of you and you don't even know it, but of course not me. Oh yes, I too am guilty of whatever human weakness he is satirizing today, but I am in on his joke! Or so he makes me feel every time. Brilliant.

it's fascinating to think of all of the little lies we tell everyday, those both kind and cruel. Mark twain, with his usual excellence in wording and wit, explains this concept better than anyone else, all while giving his own opinions in the matter or judicious and charitable lies

Not Twain's best writing. but his wit shines through here and there. If you are a fan of his writing the title is very fetching, the content less so. Okay to glance through when stuck waiting at an airport.

Unorganized content, contradicting idealisms. I will admit that the story of the nurse shed light on this ridiculous ideology, if only he had focused more on carrying this belief system through the vehicle of fiction and the story of the sick nurse.

Unorganized content, contradicting idealisms. I will admit that the story of the nurse shed light on this ridiculous ideology, if only he had focused more on carrying this belief system through the vehicle of fiction and the story of the sick nurse.

This is the first article I have read by Mark Twain. It is clever,humorous and still applicable to today's social interactions. We probably engage in many of the types of lies he describes,maybe more than we would like to admit.

The most truthful and efficient explanation of something we do so readily and so often without educating ourselves on its effects. Modern psychology has made a mountain of this molehill that Twain humorously but firmly brings to our attention.

Good and short read. I always wonder what allows people like Mark Twain to see people more deeply. To look at human acts with a deeper perspective and gather to understand why. I love psychology and this is a brief read on a prevalent subject.

Great book, so many great points. I would recommend it to anyone. Samuel Clemens is such a great writer, this particular essay you can apply the lesson to many different things in life, and it really gets you thinking.

I'm gonna have to practice... Indeed a well reasoned and entertaining presentation of how perspectives can change based simply on the power of your belief in what you say. There is no truth necessary...

Twain's mastery of the mind and written word shines as brightly as ever in this short work. He gives an exemplary reason and justification for the lying we do every day, and a biting critique of it as well.

Great book, so many great points. I would recommend it to anyone. Samuel Clemens is such a great writer, this particular essay you can apply the lesson to many different things in life, and it really gets you thinking.

I'm gonna have to practice... Indeed a well reasoned and entertaining presentation of how perspectives can change based simply on the power of your belief in what you say. There is no truth necessary...

Twain's mastery of the mind and written word shines as brightly as ever in this short work. He gives an exemplary reason and justification for the lying we do every day, and a biting critique of it as well.

This was written as a speech. Imagine the author standing in front of a stuffy group of people, who tend to think highly of themselves. Read it slowly, as it would have been spoken, to catch the nuances. The author attempts (or pretends to attempt) to balance on the fine line between complement and insult, between high regard and contempt, and he does it in classic Mark Twain style.

I thought it was a cute short essay. I was a little disappointed that it was not a longer work. I did like his tongue in cheek way of writing. I realized that I can't rate it lower for not being longer when it was an essay... so I changed it to a 4 star.

This was written as a speech. Imagine the author standing in front of a stuffy group of people, who tend to think highly of themselves. Read it slowly, as it would have been spoken, to catch the nuances. The author attempts (or pretends to attempt) to balance on the fine line between complement and insult, between high regard and contempt, and he does it in classic Mark Twain style.

Had the Author found a way to discredit lying entirely, he would have achieved the full intent of his purpose. Instead, by dissembling he has left to door of deception open, which serves none well. Otherwise an enjoyable read.

Do we realize we are lying when we say nothing at all? What about telling a lie to avoid hurting someone's feelings? All of that and more are discussed in this quick and entertaining read by Mark Twain.

I thought I had run into a collection of Twain that I had not seen. It is the same 15 paragraphs printed over and over- 96 times! The page count of the essay is four pages X 96 reprints to get the total page count. Unbelievable.

There is no publishing house information at all, any where on the book. The is no editor name or any indication who printed almost 400 pages of THE SAME DAMN ESSAY PRINTED 96 TIMES.

I'd be lying if I said I liked the essay on the decay of the art of lying. It was Mark Twain, but not at his best. To save reading the essay, the act of lying has not disappeared, but the quality of the lies has decreased.

I'd be lying if I said I liked the essay on the decay of the art of lying. It was Mark Twain, but not at his best. To save reading the essay, the act of lying has not disappeared, but the quality of the lies has decreased.

Classic funny stuff. Also reading George Takei's "Oh Myyy" and it starts off pretty much with a rewrite of Twain's "...Dying", which is not a bad thing. Just illustrates the timeless quality of Twain as a writer who remains relevant for centuries to come.

I thought it was a cute short essay. I was a little disappointed that it was not a longer work. I did like his tongue in cheek way of writing. I realized that I can't rate it lower for not being longer when it was an essay... so I changed it to a 4 star.

This was fantastic. It takes about ten minutes to read, and the kindle copy is free, so you stand to lose nothing (save, perhaps, ten minutes). By any measure, the potential for reward dramatically outweighs the risk of disappointment. Trust me. I wouldn’t lie to you.

Something about Twain always makes me feel smarter after having read him. Perhaps because he uses words for which I need a dictionary, and the bite of his irony and criticism is pleasantly scathing.
All in all, a fun few minutes.