A good sense of humor is a good social trait and key to human communication, but humor is a very subjective medium.
what makes a joke funny? some people may think they’re funny, but the audience doesn’t seem to find them that entertaining or even likeable, which tells us more about our own sense of humor than anything else!
You are reading: Best books on comedy
if one person is laughing while another doesn’t see anything funny on stage… well, then something went wrong at some point (maybe with the planning?) because there wasn’t enough pixie dust floating around when the scripts were being written. jokes.
There are many theories as to why people find certain types of jokes funny, but it all depends on the timing and delivery (and perhaps spectacular personalities). but humor doesn’t always work that way; some take more planning than others to achieve maximum impact or success with a general audience!
The best way to get better at stand-up comedy is to get onstage and perform. but you can also learn by watching or listening to other people do their acts and by reading material from successful comedians.
I’ve read many books on comedy writing and acting, and I’ll share my top picks in this article, like the comedy writing secrets I mentioned at the top of the list.
Before we get to that, let’s talk about how one becomes a comedy writer.
what is a comedy writer? how can you become one?
The idea of humorous writing is to look at any subject, give it a humorous perspective, and make the audience laugh as you present it.
the theme can be anything from happy, tragic or goofy to a trendy theme; however, instead of focusing on the drama or tragedy of the topic, they focus on the humorous parts.
comedy is rich and diverse, which means there’s a lot a comedy writer can do. a comedy writer can write television scripts, write jokes for stand-up comedy, or write for satirical magazines, among other things.
If you want to be successful at comedy writing, start by consuming stand-up specials or books full of jokes; any type of material will help you improve your skills by giving you new perspectives on master gags!
then start writing your jokes and start submitting them to producers, comedians, publications, etc.
The world of comedy writing is extraordinarily competitive and you shouldn’t expect instant success with your submissions; it could take hundreds of submissions before one is accepted.
however, always have a positive attitude, never give up and see every rejection as one more opportunity to grow (and remember: sometimes we learn from our mistakes).
You can also start a youtube channel or post on social media platforms like tiktok. these platforms have given many comedians “overnight” success.
The 13 Best Books on Comedy Writing
1. comedy writing secrets of mark shatz and mel helitzer
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This book will enlighten you on the thought process, themes, and humor techniques of comedy writers.
learn the basics of joke making, as well as detailed techniques you can apply to your own work.
This edition of the book has been revised and includes hundreds of one-liners, anecdotes, and excerpts from leading comedians. Notable contributors to the original one-liners include louis c.k., conan o’brien, tina fey, amy schumer, rodney dangerfield, jon stewart, steve martin, ellen degeneres, jimmy fallon, george carlin, zach galifianakis.
2. sick in the head: conversations on life and comedy by judd apatow
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Sick in the Head, a book written by one of Hollywood’s most successful filmmakers, Judd Apatow, shares the most memorable and insightful conversations with successful comedians.
sick in the head is a candid collection of hilarious, diverse, and incredibly insightful comedy legends like mel brooks and steve martin, and contemporaries like spike jonze and sarah silverman.
In this delightful book, Apatow served us up the conversations of a lifetime that turned out to be a magical collection.
3. born standing by steve martin
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steve martin needs no introduction, he’s been a household name for over 40 years.
In this book is his story told by himself: the story of “why he stood up and why he walked away.”
martin chronicles the sacrifices made, the discipline required, and the originality required to become the legend that he is.
talks about the cost of having to perform so often, the trends of his day, and game-changing comedians and comedy shows.
steve martin is trying to teach many lessons about how to be born on your feet by offering his testimonials of sheer tenacity, focus and fearlessness that got him to the top.
4. I can’t make this up: life lessons
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kelvin hart, new york times bestselling author, iconic comedian and hollywood box office star.
When it comes to the modern generation of comedians, he’s up there with the best.
In this book, Hart uses his immense comedic talents to create a “hilarious but also moving” memoir. She addresses topics such as survival, success, and the importance of having self-confidence.
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hart talks about his childhood and the drug addiction problems in his family, painting a picture of a young man growing up with the odds stacked against him.
How did you defy the odds and change your life? How did you overcome all your obstacles? How did he become the world’s greatest comedian?
It’s all in this entertaining memoir guide, and it talks about the hard work, determination, and talent it took to achieve your success.
5. judy carter’s comedy bible: comedy writers ultimate step-by-step guide
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This book is Judy Carter’s gift to aspiring comedy writers and comedians, and it’s a piece on the business of being funny. in this brilliant, entertaining, and totally practical guide on how to take the humor out of your life and turn it into a career.
In this professional guide, Carter shows you how to harness your life experiences and make a living by extracting humor from your life.
the comedy bible will help you turn your sense of humor into a career. the guru of aspiring stand-up comedians provides the full scoop on how to be and write funny for money.
For an inspirational comedy writer, this is indeed a bible, providing step-by-step instructions, helping readers first determine which genre of comedy writing or performing best suits them, and aiding their development as comedy writer.
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also teaches readers how to find their “real self,” which she says is the true source of comedy.
Writing comedy is a career, you need to make money at it, and so Carter explains that you might start making money negotiating contracts.
When you read the comedy bible, you’ll find that it’s pragmatic, funny, and motivating.
6. ‘the stink of honolulu’ by jack handey
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who doesn’t know snl? no one? aliens, maybe?
jack handey, ex snl writer and one of the best joke writers of all time, wrote only one novel.
and this is it.
this is jack’s first novel, so forget about the flimsy plot. handey delivers a hilarious, exotic, and unforgettable adventure story filled with one-liners, metaphors, callbacks, and cumshots.
Have you ever liked something that doesn’t make any sense? This novel will be the first. You’ll not only laugh, but you’ll learn a lot about comedy writing.
7. ‘the hidden tools of comedy’ by steve kaplan
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The Hidden Tools of Comedy is a systematic guide to understanding the practicalities of comedy, taking into account both comic theory and modern practices.
shows how scripts, scenes, jokes and monologues work with practical examples and presenting plots with clear arguments. The book’s light-hearted tone and witty writing style make it accessible and appealing to all levels of comedy enthusiasts, from newcomers to die-hard comedians.
The book is not intended to offer advice on how to “write fun”, that’s too basic. The Hidden Tools of Comedy wants to give you secrets and unique techniques for writing comedy.
So, throughout the book, Kaplan offers an expansive look at what’s not funny by dissecting sequences in popular movies and TV shows, offering warning after warning about what works and what doesn’t.
8. Poking a Dead Frog: Conversations with Today’s Best Comedy Writers by Mike Sacks
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Poking a Dead Frog: Conversations with Today’s Best Comedy Writers by Mike Sacks is an informative and entertaining book that divulges the secrets of successful comedy writing.
The book delves into the mysterious world of comedy to dissect how fun works and who does it best.
It’s packed with behind-the-scenes stories featuring legends like Amy Poehler, Adam McKay, Bill Hader, George Saunders, Mel Brooks, and many others, and tidbits that will give you insight into the daily lives of comedy and pop culture writers.
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Putting in a Dead Frog: Conversations with Today’s Best Comedy Writers is a New York Times bestseller and was named npr’s best book of the year.
10. i’m dying here: heartbreak and good times in the golden age of stand-up comedy
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tells the true story of a place called the comedy store, a famous Los Angeles comedy club.
is a story about comedians who tried to change the system and in the process ripped apart their own tight-knit community because the comedy club owner, mitzi shore, didn’t want to pay the younger comedians who performed in the “original room” because it was “a place to work your stuff and grow.”
The strike (in response to Mitzi’s stance), which occurred in 1979, included comedians like Jay Leno and David Letterman, who were paid to perform in the main room (the professional room). leno and letterman supported the other comedians who weren’t getting paid.
Finally, Mitzi relented.
I’m Dying Here tells the whole story and retells this “golden age” story of how events changed the way comedy clubs work.
11. mass market seinlanguage by jerry seinfeld
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For years, Seinfeld was the most popular show in America, and even though the show ended, Seinfeld’s unique style of humor is still available.
Not only is it available on online streaming platforms like the emmy award winning tv show has, but it’s also in the form of this new york times #1 bestselling book, seinlanguage.
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In this book, Jerry Seinfeld covers a wide range of topics, including relationships, childhood and parents, cop shows, and power suits.
This book offers new insights into the construction of jerry seinfeld jokes, based on jokes he tells from events in his own life.
12. how to write funny by scott dikkers
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dikkers, “How to Write Funny Stuff: A Serious, Step-by-Step Model for Creating Insanely Compelling, Successfully Hilarious Writing,” serves up the gist, provides relevant examples, and takes an analytical approach without being tedious.
This book should be essential reading for anyone who writes jokes or plans to make a living writing jokes, as well as anyone who just wants to be funny.
The author divides comedy into 11 basic elements. after reading this, you will be enlightened and able to spot those 11 elements in any comedy.
One thing you’re guaranteed to get from this book is training in crafting solid and funny jokes, at least one.
13. the new comedy written step by step by gene perret
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gene perret, three time emmy award winner (nominated 7 times) and has been a professional comedy writer since the early 1960’s.
Not many writers have the pedigree of this man when it comes to giving you advice on “writing comedies step by step”.
perret provides readers with a wealth of advice and recommendations covering a wide range of comics writing circumstances, as well as many crucial ideas for marketing one’s work.
In his characteristic scholarly, anecdotal style, Perret covers all facets of comics writing, making this book a comedic writer’s manual.
tips for writing and performing comedies
1. how to work with your audience
engaging your audience is vital!
that means you’re going to work with the audience to get ideas, including possible jokes they could tell, which then lead to your joke.
A funny script won’t work without an engaged audience, and engaged audiences won’t enjoy your script if they don’t get your tone.
You should pay close attention to things like physical appearance, clothing, attitude, and pacing.
Speak fast enough if you’ve been given a time limit, but slow enough so they can hear everything you say without getting impatient.
punctuate what you say with a reaction from the audience, even if it’s a big reaction, as long as you have the energy and awareness to show that they heard what you said. otherwise, you may miss out on a lot of good jokes due to loud audience reactions.
2. bend the clichés
comedians repeat their jokes and are more than free to do so.
However, it’s wrong to give the audience clichéd jokes. you risk having an audience feel cheated and disillusioned because, while they were expecting a change, they were served the same clichés they know so well.
People generally like the familiar, but if you’ve created something unique and fascinating, the audience may not be able to predict what the overall joke is, and you’ll have an excited audience
3. develop your ability to observe
If you want to create a deeper connection with your audience, you have to look at little things in human behavior. then focus on the funny side of those things, and once your jokes accurately describe aspects of real-life behavior, you’ll be able to show empathy.
That, in turn, will elicit a response from your audience and readers.
4. use irony
One of the most powerful tools for writing humor is irony. this tool can be used to contrast two things that should not go together; for example, “joey never liked animals, but one ate him.”
Irony is the language of comedy. irony can be used to subvert social norms or simply to make fun of common mistakes people make.
Your pranks don’t always have to be extreme; sometimes it’s okay to show that flawed human nature with just a subtle touch.
Final words on the best books on comedy writing
For many, being funny comes naturally, but you have to learn to unlock your creativity and become a more fun person.
a sense of humor is just one component of comedy writing. It takes as much extensive planning, writing, and skillful execution to pull off a successful prank as any other kind of story.
When done right, the jokes come across in such a charming way that it’s hard not to laugh out loud at their amusement.
Whether you’re a professional comedian who wants to freshen up their stage, a talented writer with a desire to turn humor into a career, or just someone who wants to boost their self-confidence by making themselves more fabulous and polished, write comedy secrets . And the rest of this list of 12 books will change your life!
These books and others like them are gold mines for anyone seeking success. They’re exactly what you need on your quest to become a better comic!
remember, always practice!
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