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10 Signs That You May Be a Twainiac

Do you suspect that you or someone you know might be a Twainiac? It's a condition that appears to be growing. As a self-identified Twainiac, I believe I can alert you to a few signs that will confirm or refute your suspicions.
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Teaching and Twaining

Teaching and Twaining
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"An American loves his family. If he has any love left over for some other person he generally selects Mark Twain." - Thomas Edison

Mark Twain was the most famous and beloved American during his lifetime, and his popularity continues to soar. His books are published in dozens of languages, he is quoted (and misquoted) more than any other American author, and when Smithsonian magazine named the 100 most significant Americans last year, Mark Twain was at the top of the list under "Pop Icons."

Mark Twain's Facebook page has more than 2 million fans. New books, songs, and films tell his story, reinterpret his work, or honor his legacy in some way.

He has more fans than ever, and some are noticeably more 'fanatical' than others. These are the fans known as "Twainiacs." Do you suspect that you or someone you know might be a Twainiac? It's a condition that appears to be growing. As a self-identified Twainiac, I believe I can alert you to a few signs that will confirm or refute your suspicions.

You may be a Twainiac if...

  1. 1)...your friends text or private message you to "confirm" a Mark Twain quote before sharing it on their own social media.

  • 2)...you make your vacation plans around Hal Holbrook's "Mark Twain Tonight!" performance schedule.

  • 3)...you own more than two Mark Twain quote t-shirts (and you have verified the quotes.)

  • 4)...your favorite road trip CD is Mark Twain: Words & Music.

  • 5)...you pre-ordered more than one of the Mark Twain Commemorative Coins from the U.S. Mint.

  • 6)...you have visited either the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum or The Mark Twain House & Museum (or both!).

  • 7)...you have enjoyed writing papers in school about Mark Twain and/or his books and/or have offered to help others with their papers about Mark Twain.

  • 8)...you know that two of Jimmy Buffett's favorite books are Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Following the Equator.

  • 9)...your friends send you links to news articles about Mark Twain (even if you've already posted the link on your own Facebook page).

  • 10)...you donate to the non-profit organizations that preserve Mark Twain's papers, homes, and legacy.

    • These are some of the obvious signs. Others include: knowing that animator Chuck Jones based Wile E. Coyote on Mark Twain's description of a coyote in Roughing It; knowing that Trading Places with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd was based on Mark Twain's story, "The Million Pound Bank Note;" and knowing that Mark Twain coined the term "The Gilded Age" in the book he co-authored with Charles Dudley Warner titled The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today.

    Of course, the most obvious sign that you are a Twainiac is that you are already thinking of all the ways you can share this article.

    Are you a Twainiac?
    Mark Twain Commemorative Gold Coin(01 of09)
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    You may be a Twainiac if you ordered the $5 gold Mark Twain coin from the U.S. Mint. As Mark Twain said, "The lack of money is the root of all evil." Coin proceeds benefit the 4 main Mark Twain sites at no expense to tax-payers.
    Hal Holbrook in "MARK TWAIN TONIGHT!"(02 of09)
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    You may be a Twainiac if you've seen Hal Holbrook in a live performance of "MARK TWAIN TONIGHT!" (Believe it or not, there are serious Twainiacs who have seen his live performance more than 20 times! And yes, he performs a different show every time!) Click here for a performance schedule!
    Mark Twain: Words & Music CD(03 of09)
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    You may be a Twainiac if you've given this CD as a gift, listen to it on road trips, and know it was created as a benefit for the Boyhood Home in Hannibal.
    Mark Twain and Friends(04 of09)
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    You may be a Twainiac if you've expanded your Mark Twain collection to include first editions written by his friends.
    Kitsch!(05 of09)
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    You may be a Twainiac if no kitsch is off limits for your shelves - even the Mark Twain Bobblehead!
    Little Twain(06 of09)
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    You may be a Twainiac if friends and family members buy you every little Mark Twain item they come across in their travels!
    Jimmy Buffett and Mark Twain(07 of09)
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    You may be a Twainiac if you can name the songs Jimmy has written and recorded about Mark Twain! (Jimmy also provided the voice of Huck Finn on Mark Twain: Words & Music!)
    Adventures of Huckleberry Finn(08 of09)
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    You may be a Twainiac if you know that the word "the" is not really a part of the title of this book (despite thousands of examples that show otherwise.)
    St. Twain(09 of09)
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    You may be a Twainiac if your child buys you a "St. Twain" candle as a gift, because, you know... you're a TWAINIAC!

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