Be Funny or Die: How Comedy Works and Why It Matters
Comedy can soothe our pain, vent our anger, make us feel less alone, and provide the answer to life's most difficult questions, such as What do you call a man with a seagull on his head?* It's a social glue, but it can also be divisive, and the joke is on us if we don't understand how it works. So what are the rules? How does comedy do its magic, and why does it matter? Join professional comedy writer Joel Morris on a hilarious journey into the hidden world of shared laughter, where he reveals the mechanisms that make jokes work and what comedy can teach us about ourselves. Offering astute analysis of everything from stand-up to slapstick and sitcom to spoof, Morris examines comedic patterns, rhythms, and dynamics to uncover the algorithms that secretly underpin comedy. Packed with gags and examples of comedy at its best-plus some invaluable tips on how to master that b'dum tish timing-Be Funny or Die is a fascinating investigation into how our species has developed and mastered this essential art form where laughter is the universal language and only the funniest survive. *Cliff.
"1144471597"
Be Funny or Die: How Comedy Works and Why It Matters
Comedy can soothe our pain, vent our anger, make us feel less alone, and provide the answer to life's most difficult questions, such as What do you call a man with a seagull on his head?* It's a social glue, but it can also be divisive, and the joke is on us if we don't understand how it works. So what are the rules? How does comedy do its magic, and why does it matter? Join professional comedy writer Joel Morris on a hilarious journey into the hidden world of shared laughter, where he reveals the mechanisms that make jokes work and what comedy can teach us about ourselves. Offering astute analysis of everything from stand-up to slapstick and sitcom to spoof, Morris examines comedic patterns, rhythms, and dynamics to uncover the algorithms that secretly underpin comedy. Packed with gags and examples of comedy at its best-plus some invaluable tips on how to master that b'dum tish timing-Be Funny or Die is a fascinating investigation into how our species has developed and mastered this essential art form where laughter is the universal language and only the funniest survive. *Cliff.
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Be Funny or Die: How Comedy Works and Why It Matters

Be Funny or Die: How Comedy Works and Why It Matters

by Joel Morris

Narrated by Joel Morris

Unabridged — 9 hours, 2 minutes

Be Funny or Die: How Comedy Works and Why It Matters

Be Funny or Die: How Comedy Works and Why It Matters

by Joel Morris

Narrated by Joel Morris

Unabridged — 9 hours, 2 minutes

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Overview

Comedy can soothe our pain, vent our anger, make us feel less alone, and provide the answer to life's most difficult questions, such as What do you call a man with a seagull on his head?* It's a social glue, but it can also be divisive, and the joke is on us if we don't understand how it works. So what are the rules? How does comedy do its magic, and why does it matter? Join professional comedy writer Joel Morris on a hilarious journey into the hidden world of shared laughter, where he reveals the mechanisms that make jokes work and what comedy can teach us about ourselves. Offering astute analysis of everything from stand-up to slapstick and sitcom to spoof, Morris examines comedic patterns, rhythms, and dynamics to uncover the algorithms that secretly underpin comedy. Packed with gags and examples of comedy at its best-plus some invaluable tips on how to master that b'dum tish timing-Be Funny or Die is a fascinating investigation into how our species has developed and mastered this essential art form where laughter is the universal language and only the funniest survive. *Cliff.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Made me chuckle … Hats off to the man. He knows his onions." — Daily Mail

"I loved Be Funny or Die – it's clever, kind, generous and so gloriously nerdy. It's fearlessly forensic, and I love the close examination of what makes us laugh, and most importantly, why. This book will make its readers much funnier, and much better at seeking out and celebrating the funny, at a time when we have never needed humour more. It's made me a better writer. It's probably made me a better human too." — Daisy Buchanan, award-winning journalist and author of Insatiable

"For years, Joel has supplied a steady stream of dynamite gags to TV shows people think of as ‘mine’, making me look cleverer and funnier than I am by proxy. Now he’s widening his reach to you — the revolting, undeserving public — and frankly I should be outraged. The only consolation is knowing that by teaching the secrets of comedy to all and sundry, he’ll be doing himself out of a job faster than ChatGPT ever could. What a maniac ... Joel knows what he’s talking about. And he’s sickeningly funny. Stop reading this sentence and buy this book." — Charlie Brooker, writer, television presenter, producer and satirist

"The ultimate Ted Talk on comedy ... Joel Morris has finally invented being funny whilst talking about being funny." — Caitlin Moran, journalist, broadcaster, and author

"Joel Morris gets to the heart of comedy in Be Funny or Die." — Richard Curtis, film director

"Joel manages to achieve the remarkable in being both deeply analytical and utterly joyous at the same time. If you have any interest in either what it is to be humorous or what it is to be human you need to read this book." — Robin Ince, comedian, actor and writer

"This is terrific." — Simon Mayo, radio presenter and author

Product Details

BN ID: 2940160615219
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication date: 03/06/2024
Edition description: Unabridged
Sales rank: 793,558
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