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On Jokes (or, why everything you know about comedy is wrong)

The Hidden Mechanics of Funny

by Jimmy Carr, Amanda Baker, Abi Grant ...

The Big BangNatural SelectionE = mc2All pretty decent theories, that beg one question: why has no-one discovered a fully unified theory for what makes jokes funny?Well, comedy director Amanda Baker, comedy writer Abi Grant and stand-up comedian Jimmy Carr have done just that. In this book, in case that's not obvious. From how to identify the families of jokes, to decoding the building blocks of ... Read more

$13.99 USD

PRE-ORDER

The Big BangNatural SelectionE = mc2All pretty decent theories, that beg one question: why has no-one discovered a fully unified theory for what makes jokes funny?Well, comedy director Amanda Baker, comedy writer Abi Grant and stand-up comedian Jimmy Carr have done just that. In this book, in case that's not obvious. From how to identify the families of jokes, to decoding the building blocks of
... Read more
Showbiz!

My Life as a Middle-Aged Man

by Murray Hill ...

In his powerful debut memoir, beloved comedian Murray Hill (Somebody Somewhere) opens up for the first time about how his painful past led to his unwavering commitment to spread joy—one rimshot at a timeMurray Hill, the trailblazing comic and self-proclaimed “hardest working middle-aged man in show business,” has been delighting audiences around the world with his signature blend of campy humor ... Read more

$14.99 USD

PRE-ORDER

In his powerful debut memoir, beloved comedian Murray Hill (Somebody Somewhere) opens up for the first time about how his painful past led to his unwavering commitment to spread joy—one rimshot at a timeMurray Hill, the trailblazing comic and self-proclaimed “hardest working middle-aged man in show business,” has been delighting audiences around the world with his signature blend of campy humor
... Read more
I'll Show Myself Out

Essays on Midlife and Motherhood

by Jessi Klein ...

An instant New York Times bestseller, I'll Show Myself Out is the eagerly anticipated second essay collection from Jessi Klein, author of the acclaimed debut You’ll Grow Out of It.Longlisted for the PEN Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay“Sometimes I think about how much bad news there is to tell my kid, the endlessly long, looping CVS receipt scroll of truly terrible things that ... Read more

Was $14.99 USD Now $1.99 USD

An instant New York Times bestseller, I'll Show Myself Out is the eagerly anticipated second essay collection from Jessi Klein, author of the acclaimed debut You’ll Grow Out of It.Longlisted for the PEN Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay“Sometimes I think about how much bad news there is to tell my kid, the endlessly long, looping CVS receipt scroll of truly terrible things that
... Read more
Afterthoughts

or Some Pistachios Won't Open – Wisdom for the Unreflective

by Richard Ayoade ...

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERRichard Ayoade has set down his most enormous thoughts for the benefit of all those who dare read them. Thoughts like . . .TV detectives need a gimmick. Mine would be not caring who did it.If, when one door shuts, another door opens, there's something wrong with your doors. They shouldn't be doing that.Where's the box to tick if you ARE a robot?<st... ... Read more

$11.89 USD

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERRichard Ayoade has set down his most enormous thoughts for the benefit of all those who dare read them. Thoughts like . . .TV detectives need a gimmick. Mine would be not caring who did it.If, when one door shuts, another door opens, there's something wrong with your doors. They shouldn't be doing that.Where's the box to tick if you ARE a robot?<st...
... Read more
Born a Crime

Stories from a South African Childhood

by Trevor Noah ...

Series series One World Essentials
**#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • More than one million copies sold! A “brilliant” (Lupita Nyong’o, Time), “poignant” (Entertainment Weekly), “soul-nourishing” (USA Today) memoir about coming of age during the twilight of apartheid“Noah’s childhood stories are told with all the hilarity and intellect that characterizes his comedy, while illuminating a dark and brutal period in South Africa’s ... Read more

$8.99 USD

**#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • More than one million copies sold! A “brilliant” (Lupita Nyong’o, Time), “poignant” (Entertainment Weekly), “soul-nourishing” (USA Today) memoir about coming of age during the twilight of apartheid“Noah’s childhood stories are told with all the hilarity and intellect that characterizes his comedy, while illuminating a dark and brutal period in South Africa’s
... Read more
The Life of Lee

by Lee Evans ...

Lee Evans is one of the best-loved comedians in the country; a Hollywood star able to sell out arenas in the blink of eye.But he was not always such a roaring success.The Life of Lee is an utterly hilarious and very moving autobiography charting his ups and downs on the way to the top. Lee takes us on a darkly humorous journey through his childhood spent running wild on a Bristol housing estate ... Read more

$9.69 USD

Lee Evans is one of the best-loved comedians in the country; a Hollywood star able to sell out arenas in the blink of eye.But he was not always such a roaring success.The Life of Lee is an utterly hilarious and very moving autobiography charting his ups and downs on the way to the top. Lee takes us on a darkly humorous journey through his childhood spent running wild on a Bristol housing estate
... Read more
Becoming Nick and Nora

The Thin Man and the Films of William Powell and Myrna Loy

by Rob Kozlowski ...

As Nick and Nora Charles in the six Thin Man movies from 1934 to 1947, the team of William Powell and Myrna Loy showed that marriage didn't have to mean the end of the romantic comedy. From the comedic delight that was the initial The Thin Man through its five sequels as well as eight other films (including the Oscar-winning The Great Ziegfeld and Manhattan Melodrama), Powell and Loy were cemented ... Read more

$25.99 USD

As Nick and Nora Charles in the six Thin Man movies from 1934 to 1947, the team of William Powell and Myrna Loy showed that marriage didn't have to mean the end of the romantic comedy. From the comedic delight that was the initial The Thin Man through its five sequels as well as eight other films (including the Oscar-winning The Great Ziegfeld and Manhattan Melodrama), Powell and Loy were cemented
... Read more
Still Just a Geek

An Annotated Memoir

by Wil Wheaton ...

A New York Times bestseller!Celebrated actor, personality, and all-around nerd, Wil Wheaton updates his memoir of collected blog posts with all new material and annotations as he reexamines one of the most interesting lives in Hollywood and fandom--and now for the first time in audio, narrated by Wil himself!From starring in Stand by Me to playing Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation ... Read more

$9.99 USD

A New York Times bestseller!Celebrated actor, personality, and all-around nerd, Wil Wheaton updates his memoir of collected blog posts with all new material and annotations as he reexamines one of the most interesting lives in Hollywood and fandom--and now for the first time in audio, narrated by Wil himself!From starring in Stand by Me to playing Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation
... Read more
An Ideal Husband

by Oscar Wilde ...

Series series Plays by Oscar Wilde
An Ideal Husband is a witty and satirical play written by Oscar Wilde. Set in Victorian England, it centers around the characters of Sir Robert Chiltern, a successful and respected politician, and Mrs. Cheveley, a scheming woman from his past who threatens to ruin his reputation. Sir Robert's seemingly ideal life is turned upside down when Mrs. Cheveley arrives in London with evidence of a past ... Read more

$3.99 USD

An Ideal Husband is a witty and satirical play written by Oscar Wilde. Set in Victorian England, it centers around the characters of Sir Robert Chiltern, a successful and respected politician, and Mrs. Cheveley, a scheming woman from his past who threatens to ruin his reputation. Sir Robert's seemingly ideal life is turned upside down when Mrs. Cheveley arrives in London with evidence of a past
... Read more
In On the Joke

The Original Queens of Standup Comedy

by Shawn Levy ...

**“A sensitive and vivid study of early female stand-ups… [Levy is a] painstaking, knowledgeable guide.” —New York Times Book ReviewA hilarious and moving account of the trailblazing women of stand-up comedy who broke down walls so they could stand before the mic—perfect for fans of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Hacks**Today, women are ascendant in stand-up comedy, even preeminent. They make ... Read more

$9.99 USD

**“A sensitive and vivid study of early female stand-ups… [Levy is a] painstaking, knowledgeable guide.” —New York Times Book ReviewA hilarious and moving account of the trailblazing women of stand-up comedy who broke down walls so they could stand before the mic—perfect for fans of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Hacks**Today, women are ascendant in stand-up comedy, even preeminent. They make
... Read more
Yours Cruelly, Elvira

Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark

by Cassandra Peterson ...

The woman behind the icon known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the undisputed Queen of Halloween, reveals her full story filled with intimate bombshells—told by the bombshell herself.On Good Friday in 1953, at only 18 months old, 25 miles from the nearest hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, Cassandra Peterson reached for a pot on the stove and doused herself in boiling water. Third-degree burns ... Read more

$11.99 USD

The woman behind the icon known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the undisputed Queen of Halloween, reveals her full story filled with intimate bombshells—told by the bombshell herself.On Good Friday in 1953, at only 18 months old, 25 miles from the nearest hospital in Manhattan, Kansas, Cassandra Peterson reached for a pot on the stove and doused herself in boiling water. Third-degree burns
... Read more
Live From New York

The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by Its Stars, Writers, and Guests

by James Andrew Miller, Tom Shales ...

James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales's definitive oral history of Saturday Night Live, hailed as "incredible" (Vulture) and "required reading" (People).When first published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, Live from New York was immediately proclaimed the best book ever produced on the landmark and legendary late-night show. In their own words, unfiltered and uncensored, a ... Read more

$13.99 USD

James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales's definitive oral history of Saturday Night Live, hailed as "incredible" (Vulture) and "required reading" (People).When first published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, Live from New York was immediately proclaimed the best book ever produced on the landmark and legendary late-night show. In their own words, unfiltered and uncensored, a
... Read more
Peter Pan Goes Wrong

by Jonathan Sayer, Mr Henry Lewis, Mr Henry Shields ...

Series series Modern Plays
Tonight Neverland is fleshed out with plenty of plant life, certainly bettering 2011's production of Jack and the Bean-Cactus. So, with no further ado, please put your hands together for J.M. Barrie's Christmas classic: Peter Pan!The inept and accident-prone Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society set out to present J. M. Barrie's classic tale of Peter Pan, their most audacious production to date. ... Read more

$13.99 USD

Tonight Neverland is fleshed out with plenty of plant life, certainly bettering 2011's production of Jack and the Bean-Cactus. So, with no further ado, please put your hands together for J.M. Barrie's Christmas classic: Peter Pan!The inept and accident-prone Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society set out to present J. M. Barrie's classic tale of Peter Pan, their most audacious production to date.
... Read more
Mustache Shenanigans

Making Super Troopers and Other Adventures in Comedy

by Jay Chandrasekhar ...

Director, writer, and actor Jay Chandrasekhar tells the hilarious stories behind his films Super Troopers and Super Troopers 2 (out on 4/20/2018!), the history of his comedy group, Broken Lizard, and everything in between.Jay Chandrasekhar has spent the past two decades writing, directing, and acting in film and TV. With his comedy group, Broken Lizard, he has produced and directed beloved movies ... Read more

$4.99 USD

Director, writer, and actor Jay Chandrasekhar tells the hilarious stories behind his films Super Troopers and Super Troopers 2 (out on 4/20/2018!), the history of his comedy group, Broken Lizard, and everything in between.Jay Chandrasekhar has spent the past two decades writing, directing, and acting in film and TV. With his comedy group, Broken Lizard, he has produced and directed beloved movies
... Read more
Powerhouse

The Untold Story of Hollywood's Creative Artists Agency

by James Andrew Miller ...

“Magisterial. ... A must read for anyone who wants to work in Hollywood or just know how Hollywood works.”— The Hollywood ReporterA New York Times bestseller, now updated with an afterword and exclusive new materialFrom the #1 bestselling author behind acclaimed oral histories of Saturday Night Live and ESPN comes "the most hotly anticipated book [in decades]" (Variety): James Andrew Miller's ... Read more

$8.99 USD

“Magisterial. ... A must read for anyone who wants to work in Hollywood or just know how Hollywood works.”— The Hollywood ReporterA New York Times bestseller, now updated with an afterword and exclusive new materialFrom the #1 bestselling author behind acclaimed oral histories of Saturday Night Live and ESPN comes "the most hotly anticipated book [in decades]" (Variety): James Andrew Miller's
... Read more
Comedy Book

How Comedy Conquered Culture—and the Magic That Makes It Work

by Jesse David Fox ...

One of NPR’s Best Books of 2023. A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. Named a Most Anticipated Book by Vulture, Elle, Chicago Tribune, The Millions, and Lit Hub.“*Comedy Book*changes the way we talk about an art form that is more diverse and exciting than ever before.” —Seth Meyers“Energetic and wise . . . Comedy Book <... ... Read more

$12.99 USD

One of NPR’s Best Books of 2023. A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. Named a Most Anticipated Book by Vulture, Elle, Chicago Tribune, The Millions, and Lit Hub.“*Comedy Book*changes the way we talk about an art form that is more diverse and exciting than ever before.” —Seth Meyers“Energetic and wise . . . Comedy Book <...
... Read more
If Love were Oil, I'd be about a Quart Low

by Lewis Grizzard ...

A veteran of the Divorce Wars speaks out ... on growing up (Happiness is a Red-Headed Cheerleader), first love (She Wore Spaghetti, But I Loved Her Anyway), marriage (Panty Hose on the Show Rod and Raisins in the Rice), and divorce (Loneliness and No Clean Underwear). Grizzard even offers advice to the young (Never Kiss a Lady When Her Mouth is Full of Snuff) and how his mother gave him fresh ... Read more

$4.99 USD

A veteran of the Divorce Wars speaks out ... on growing up (Happiness is a Red-Headed Cheerleader), first love (She Wore Spaghetti, But I Loved Her Anyway), marriage (Panty Hose on the Show Rod and Raisins in the Rice), and divorce (Loneliness and No Clean Underwear). Grizzard even offers advice to the young (Never Kiss a Lady When Her Mouth is Full of Snuff) and how his mother gave him fresh
... Read more
First Lady of Laughs

The Forgotten Story of Jean Carroll, America's First Jewish Woman Stand-Up Comedian

by Grace Kessler Overbeke ...

Before Hacks and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, there was the comedienne who started it allFirst Lady of Laughs tells the story of Jean Carroll, the first Jewish woman to become a star in the field we now call stand-up comedy. Though rarely mentioned among the pantheon of early stand-up comics such as Henny Youngman and Lenny Bruce, Jean Carroll rivaled or even outshone the male counterparts of her ... Read more

$17.09 USD

Before Hacks and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, there was the comedienne who started it allFirst Lady of Laughs tells the story of Jean Carroll, the first Jewish woman to become a star in the field we now call stand-up comedy. Though rarely mentioned among the pantheon of early stand-up comics such as Henny Youngman and Lenny Bruce, Jean Carroll rivaled or even outshone the male counterparts of her
... Read more
The History of Sketch Comedy

A Journey through the Art and Craft of Humor

by Keegan-Michael Key, Elle Key ...

"A boisterous debut … the authors are as funny as one would expect … this is a hoot.” ―Publishers Weekly“Will entice fans of Key & Peele … a fun and funny primer on the art form.” ―BooklistAuthors Keegan-Michael Key and Elle Key build on the popularity of their 2022 Webby Award–winning podcast and delve deeper into the world of sketch, helped along with new essays created expressly for the book by ... Read more

$15.99 USD

"A boisterous debut … the authors are as funny as one would expect … this is a hoot.” ―Publishers Weekly“Will entice fans of Key & Peele … a fun and funny primer on the art form.” ―BooklistAuthors Keegan-Michael Key and Elle Key build on the popularity of their 2022 Webby Award–winning podcast and delve deeper into the world of sketch, helped along with new essays created expressly for the book by
... Read more
Confessions of a Fat Guy

by Scott Moss ...

I've been heavy starting in the 5th grade. Except for a brief period between 19 and 25 when I was in great shape, I've been overweight. Confessions of a Fat Guy is an autobiography of what it's like to be in a world that sees overweight people differently. They assume we're lazy, out of control, and too sensitive to a tease or a joke about fat people. I'm a big guy. By that I mean tall and big. I ... Read more

$3.99 USD or Free with Kobo Plus

I've been heavy starting in the 5th grade. Except for a brief period between 19 and 25 when I was in great shape, I've been overweight. Confessions of a Fat Guy is an autobiography of what it's like to be in a world that sees overweight people differently. They assume we're lazy, out of control, and too sensitive to a tease or a joke about fat people. I'm a big guy. By that I mean tall and big. I
... Read more
Weird Al

Seriously

by Lily E. Hirsch ...

From his love of accordions and Hawaiian print shirts to his popular puns and trademark dance moves, "Weird Al" Yankovic has made a career out of making us laugh.Funny music is often dismissed as light and irrelevant, but Yankovic’s fourteen successful studio albums prove there is more going on than comedic music's reputation suggests. In this book, for the first time, the parodies, original ... Read more

$17.09 USD

From his love of accordions and Hawaiian print shirts to his popular puns and trademark dance moves, "Weird Al" Yankovic has made a career out of making us laugh.Funny music is often dismissed as light and irrelevant, but Yankovic’s fourteen successful studio albums prove there is more going on than comedic music's reputation suggests. In this book, for the first time, the parodies, original
... Read more
Knives & Spoons

by Luis J. Gomez ...

Knives & Spoons is a raw, darkly funny, and deeply honest memoir chronicling the turbulent childhood of comedian and entrepreneur Luis J. Gomez. Beginning with the devastating loss of his father and ending with the equally tragic death of his mother, this book offers an unflinching look at a life shaped by heartbreak, chaos, and resilience.Through vivid storytelling, Gomez navigates the highs and ... Read more

$14.99 USD

Knives & Spoons is a raw, darkly funny, and deeply honest memoir chronicling the turbulent childhood of comedian and entrepreneur Luis J. Gomez. Beginning with the devastating loss of his father and ending with the equally tragic death of his mother, this book offers an unflinching look at a life shaped by heartbreak, chaos, and resilience.Through vivid storytelling, Gomez navigates the highs and
... Read more
A Book for Her

by Bridget Christie ...

Bridget Christie is a stand-up comedian, idiot and feminist. On the 30th of April 2012, a man farted in the Women’s Studies Section of a bookshop and it changed her life forever.A Book For Her details Christie’s twelve years of anonymous toil in the bowels of stand-up comedy and the sudden epiphany that made her, unbelievably, one of the most critically acclaimed British stand-up comedians this ... Read more

$13.69 USD

Bridget Christie is a stand-up comedian, idiot and feminist. On the 30th of April 2012, a man farted in the Women’s Studies Section of a bookshop and it changed her life forever.A Book For Her details Christie’s twelve years of anonymous toil in the bowels of stand-up comedy and the sudden epiphany that made her, unbelievably, one of the most critically acclaimed British stand-up comedians this
... Read more
I Tried to Change So You Don't Have To

True Life Lessons

by Loni Love ...

An inspiring, hilarious memoir about learning to resist the pressures of conformity, love yourself for who you are, embrace your flaws, and unlock your true potential.Winner of the African American Literary Award for Memoir!Now cohost of Fox's The Real and SiriusXM's Café Mocha, Loni Love hasn't taken the typical path to becoming America's favorite straight-talking girlfriend and comedian. She was ... Read more

$14.99 USD

An inspiring, hilarious memoir about learning to resist the pressures of conformity, love yourself for who you are, embrace your flaws, and unlock your true potential.Winner of the African American Literary Award for Memoir!Now cohost of Fox's The Real and SiriusXM's Café Mocha, Loni Love hasn't taken the typical path to becoming America's favorite straight-talking girlfriend and comedian. She was
... Read more

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