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Books for Comedians and Comedy Nerds

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  • čas přidán 9. 02. 2020
  • Enjoy a one-take semi-tipsy video of me sharing all my favorite books about comedy.
    Guy Branum, I love you.
    Also, Ian Brodie -- I love you and while making this video I realized that I read your book through a library! Gotta get myself a copy for posterity.
    Book Mentioned, in order:
    - My Life as a Goddess by Guy Branum
    - Stand-up Comedy in Theory, Or, Abjection in America by John Limon
    - On the Real Side by Mel Watkins
    - Born Standing Up by Steve Martin
    - Legacy of the Wisecrack by Eddie Tafoya
    - Comedy at the Edge by Richard Zoglin
    - Make Em Laugh by Michael Kantor
    - I'm Dying Up Here by William Knoedelseder
    - Reader in Comedy: An Anthology of Theory and Criticism
    - Mock Stars by John Wenzel
    - Oxford Introductions of Humour and Comedy
    - The Comedians by Kliph Nesteroff
    Steve Martin quote that I mentioned:
    “With conventional joke telling, there’s a moment when the comedian delivers the punch line, and the audience knows it’s the punch line, and their response ranges from polite to uproarious. What bothered me about this formula was the nature of the laugh it inspired, a vocal acknowledgment that a joke had been told, like automatic applause at the end of a song … These notions stayed with me for months, until they formed an idea that revolutionized my comic direction: What if there were no punch lines? What if there were no indicators? What if I crated tension and never released it? What if I headed for a climax, but all I delivered was an anticlimax? What would the audience do with all that time. But if I kept denying them the formality of a punch line, the audience would eventually pick their own place to laugh, essentially out of desperation. This type of laugh seemed stronger to me, as they would be laughing at something they chose, rather than being told exactly when to laugh.”
    p.111 of Born Standing Up
    Patreon: / katiemears
    Website: www.kmears.com
    Twitter: / ktmeeerkat
    Instagram: / ktmeeerkat
    Inquiries: www.kmears.com...

Komentáře • 38

  • @Kurdtiss
    @Kurdtiss Před 4 lety +7

    I just started reading books on comedy after ignoring the medium for far too long. A friend shared this video. It came right when I needed it the most. Thank you! 🙏🏻

  • @nstvns15
    @nstvns15 Před 4 lety +15

    you're like Pam Beasly's geekier, yet somehow cooler sister

  • @damonkabb1404
    @damonkabb1404 Před 4 lety +2

    Katie it is so interesting that you raised the point that there is not just one quintessential book about comedy. Having lived in Israel and South Africa and watching also British and American stand-up comedy since the 80s until 2020. I agree with many of your videos that comedy is both nuanced, subtle and I have seen based on the situation of that country's culture and ordeals. Such as Peter dirk Eys making people aware of damage of apartheid through comedy bordering on awaking of the conscience.

    • @damonkabb1404
      @damonkabb1404 Před 4 lety

      m.czcams.com/video/pEuLFlvX-KE/video.html

  • @thomasnoack7833
    @thomasnoack7833 Před 4 lety +2

    I just finished reading Stewart Lees book, highly recommend it, technically it's a memoir but also its more than that. Its split into three sections and in each section is a transcript of one of his specials, so he tells you about the context of the special and also has footnotes all through it explaining the material. Also is a great insight the history of comedy in Britain.

  • @Enzombie
    @Enzombie Před 4 lety +2

    One of my favorite books is A Bad Idea I'm About To Do from comedian Chris Gethard, and I know is not *about* comedy but basically every chapter feels like a stand up story, and it has though me alot about how to tell a funny story or any story in general.
    Great video and Love from Argentina 😊

  • @e-care-books9867
    @e-care-books9867 Před 3 lety +2

    Fun video, fun books!

  • @johnlimon8190
    @johnlimon8190 Před 3 lety +1

    Hello! And thanks for the kind, charmingly measured, words.

  • @screwgogleplus7105
    @screwgogleplus7105 Před 4 lety +3

    If you could add the names of the books to the description it would be absolutely amazing.

  • @rupertsplinge6082
    @rupertsplinge6082 Před 3 lety +5

    My recommendation - 'Days Out - The Funboy3' By Phil Street. A trilogy of comic masterpieces. Four guys travelling from town to town, from pub to pub. Very funny. Should be made into a TV show. The author has written a couple of books in an 'Antidote' series and a Novella which is very amusing.

  • @byardnick
    @byardnick Před 4 lety +1

    This is a great list! Thanks for sharing.
    We killed a very oral history about women in comedy is so good to.

  • @durias
    @durias Před 4 lety +2

    Thanks for sharing this list! I've only read one of those--Born Standing Up--so I look forward to diving into the others on your list. Have you read "What Are You Laughing At?" by Dan O'shannon? I refer back to and think about the concepts in this book a lot especially when I try to figure out why something's funny.

  • @LeoMontZepoL
    @LeoMontZepoL Před 3 lety +2

    I´ll be looking for your book once you write it!

  • @VINZBROWN
    @VINZBROWN Před 3 lety +1

    THE ART OF STANDUP by Franklin Ajaye. It's a crazy amazing book of interviews: Johnathon Wnters, George Wallace, Carlin, Sinbad, C. Rock, on n on n on. Sooooooo many AMAZINGLY insightful comedians dropping NUGGETS.
    And the weird part is, I learned some REALLY KEY stuff that's helped ME alot from two comedians that I'm not REALLY into - Ellen Degeneres n Rosanna Bar!!!

  • @UntitledShowwithBobandPat

    Did you ever read (and if so, what did you think of) the book, Seriously Funny: The Rebel Comedians of the 1950s and 1960s
    Book by Gerald Nachman? That's a book I've been meaning to read. However, there are a lot of books I've been meaning to read. I buy a lot of books about comedy, but because I'm dyslexic, I never read them. Here are a few that I have, and will read, someday. Let me know if any of them are good, or don't.
    Comedy Writing Secrets by Mel Helitzer and Mark Shatz
    Truth in Comedy by Charna Halpern, Del Close, Kim Johnson
    A Futile and Stupid Gesture by Josh Karp
    The Comedy Bible by Judy Carter
    Jokes Philosophical Thoughts on Joking Matters by Ted Cohen
    I Think, Therefore I laugh by John Paulos
    Comedies of Moliere selected by John Gassner
    Goldmine Comedy Record Price Guide by Ronald Smith
    The Portable Dorothy Parker (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)
    Laughter A Scientific Investigation by Robert Provine
    The Humor Code by Peter McGraw and Joel Warner
    One time at a renaissance fair, I asked the guy at the book store (really it was a book tent) if there was a book that was the extensive all encompassing history of court jesters, noble fools, harlequins, circus clowns, and street mimes. He said he didn't know. I guess I can just google it.
    As for who the first stand up comic was I couldn't saw, but I did come up with a list of the four comedians who made the art form, the medium, of stand up comedy itself a household name, through comedy albums, filmed specials and concerts, using stand-up material as source material for movies and tv shows. The four horsemen of comedy, I call them. They didn't invent it, but boy, they sure made it popular; Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Bill Cosby, and Steve Martin.

  • @Goodniteruben
    @Goodniteruben Před 3 lety +1

    Good video. I am a fan of comedy. What is your favorite one-liner?

  • @jimfaust6342
    @jimfaust6342 Před 3 lety

    I also highly recommend Elton John's Me - it's drop dead hilarious. I had to wipe my eyes several times from crying from laughing.

  • @amysson5151
    @amysson5151 Před 2 lety

    In the description, yeah, but how about verbalizing the title and author of each book as you discuss it so those of us driving or hang gliding or performing surgery without access to the description can follow along and put a review with the book as you talk about it? Just sain’.

  • @jimfaust6342
    @jimfaust6342 Před 3 lety

    I love black humor. Well actually all humor but black humor specifically. Lol Chris Rock and Kat Williams kill me. If you get a chance check out the House Next Door with Mike Epps. Im a white dude but I was raised in Chester PA. Lol I was like the only white guy there. I got 3 loves from that. The humor - the music and the food. 😋😋😋😋😋 BTW George Carlin is my favorite Comedian of all time. Lewis Black is my favorite living comedian.

  • @AmitKumar-xx9pl
    @AmitKumar-xx9pl Před 2 lety

    Thanks a lot for this video please make more 👍🙏

  • @Toyspriceguide
    @Toyspriceguide Před 2 lety

    I love your passion

  • @sunset33533
    @sunset33533 Před 3 lety +2

    The book "You Suck" by Paulie Amigo is a fun self-help satire. Recommended.

  • @lifeseemedgoodbut
    @lifeseemedgoodbut Před 3 lety

    I have a suggestion if I may. Title is Life Seemed Good, But.... The stories are fantasy humor, each about 2 pages long, and is not at all what you'd expect! I can send a pdf if you like or you can read some free on Amazon. The stories are written as if for children but are for adults. Many thanks!

  • @ErikVaughnDillinger
    @ErikVaughnDillinger Před 2 lety

    Am I the only wondering why she didn't pick the books out before she started filming? Mark Twain the first... wut?...

  • @encapsulatio
    @encapsulatio Před 4 lety

    Which ones are practical enough that can teach you how to make up your own jokes? In my case is mostly for improving my "social skills" where you're that guy that can easily make everyone laugh and the jokes themselves are not too far from "pro" level.

    • @encapsulatio
      @encapsulatio Před 4 lety

      @@KatieMears But what about how-to guides?That would be way more practical.Can you make a list of your favorites?

    • @thomasnoack7833
      @thomasnoack7833 Před 4 lety

      If you want a practical book there's the comedy Bible, I got it when I first started out doing standup. Personally I thought it was kinda meh, it taught me a couple of things that helped me a bit when I started, and then I later chose to forget them.

    • @thomasnoack7833
      @thomasnoack7833 Před 4 lety +1

      But if your looking to just casually riff in a group of people the way a pro would, then it's either you learn how to become a pro through years possibly decades of practice. Or the other option which I think would suit you better, just listen to a bunch of standup or funny shows and quote them. It's like learning a couple of songs on guitar, you aren't going to get a career or get respected for being a comedian but you'll be able to entertain some people.

    • @GenesisSol
      @GenesisSol Před 3 lety

      @@encapsulatio I also recommend the Tao of Comedy by Bobbie Oliver

  • @GenesisSol
    @GenesisSol Před 3 lety

    Have you seen Crashing, Pete Holme’s show? I think it’s the closest you might like comedy on TV

  • @johnlimon8190
    @johnlimon8190 Před 3 lety

    Guy Branum is right!

  • @thetrueandhonesttyreesneed1524

    The Aristocrats!

  • @DSOrton
    @DSOrton Před 4 lety

    Thank you for the list

  • @THCMusicBlog
    @THCMusicBlog Před rokem

    my god, hold the book still

  • @aradbasketball4843
    @aradbasketball4843 Před 4 lety

    I think I’ve seen u in my library do you live in Sweden?

  • @williamjoyner3759
    @williamjoyner3759 Před 3 lety +1

    Tell us a joke!?

  • @williamjoyner3759
    @williamjoyner3759 Před 3 lety

    Cutie!

  • @Rambam1776
    @Rambam1776 Před 4 lety +1

    You wave them around constantly and rarely give title and author. could you just hold it up quietly to the camera for a second so I can get the information?