"Self-Made Men" by Stephen Leacock — Review

The story "Self-Made Men" by Stephen Leacock is a humorous take on two wealthy businessmen who try to outdo each other by exaggerating their past struggles. At first, they boast about their difficult early days—sleeping in a tar barrel or a piano box and eating scraps. Their competition becomes funnier as they keep adding wild details, like playing games in a tiny space or eating hog’s food. The irony is clear: these men, now rich and comfortable, pretend to miss their "humble" past while ordering fancy food.

Leacock’s satire mocks people who romanticize poverty after achieving success. The characters’ ridiculous arguments and sudden shift to luxurious orders highlight their hypocrisy. The story is using humor to show how people often exaggerate their hardships to seem tougher or more self-made than they really are. It’s a clever and entertaining read that makes readers laugh while making a sharp point about human nature.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://short-stories.co/@stephen.leacock/self-made-men-8devmqj03lx2