The Sunny Side of the Street

"The Sunny Side of the Street" by Marshall P. Wilder is a collection of funny stories and personal memories from the early 1900s. The author, who worked as an entertainer and jester, tells interesting stories that show how important it is to find joy in jokes and to see the bright side of difficult situations. Wilder uses his own experiences and view of the world to encourage readers to enjoy the humor and kindness that can be found every day when interacting with both famous and regular people. In the beginning, Wilder explains that he believes laughter and humor are very important, and he creates a fun mood to prepare the reader for the stories that will follow. He talks about how he likes to focus on the "sunny side" of life, and he even uses his own short height to make funny comparisons to past jesters. He thinks that joking is a great way to make people feel better and build relationships, whether they are rich or poor. The stories he shares come from his own life and what he has seen, from performing for audiences to meeting political leaders, which sets the stage for the funny and smart jokes that will be shared throughout the book.