Customer Reviews

The Comedy Thesaurus: 3,241 Quips, Quotes, and Smartass Remarks

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A below "review" on this site (if it hasn't already been removed) accuses me of "stealing" comedians' material via a "legal loophole."

Which is a not only a misreading of US Copyright Law, but misrepresents the content of my book, my methods for compiling it, and my intent.

Up to 100 comedians directly contributed jokes to me for this book; and the material gathered under the Fair Use provision of US Copyright law is not only correctly contributed to each comedian, but in addition I have, whenever possible, provided contact information for comedians, so that readers who like the glimpse of a comedian's act provided, can then contact the comedian and buy the CD, DVD of his/her act or find out where to see that comedian live or on TV.

The Fair Use provision of the US Copyright laws is no mere "legal loophole" -- it has not only provided the basis for the compiling of every other quote book in existence in the USA for at least 100 years, but is the underpinning of every news report you read (or hear), and every history book written in the United States. Fair Use has not only been upheld by the Supreme Court, it has been championed by every free speech advocate imaginable, including the ACLU.

If my intent had been to "steal" I could have printed the quotes without attribution (which happens all too often on the internet, usually by those unfamiliar with US Copyright law or fair use, in any sense.) And I certainly wouldn't have gone to the trouble to provide comedian credits, bios and contact information (including email or website addresses, whenever possible.)

But as a reporter on the comedy scene for over 20 years -- including as the comedy critic for the LA Weekly for over a dozens years, and also freelance for the Los Angeles Times, Mademoiselle magazine and other newspapers and magazines -- that would be unlikely to be my intent.

This is basically a smart-ass version of Bartlett's Quotations -- and what a terrific deal. 3000+ quotes for $16.95. And they're not the same quotes that you see in all the other quote collections -- no Mark Twain, no Oscar Wilde, no Dorothy Parker. These quotes are all refreshingly contemporary -- culled by the author from a ton of standup performances. If you're looking for funny/fresh observations to use in a speech or article, this is the perfect reference. (And kudos to the book's illustrator -- the oddball chapter openers are delightful!)

i'm usually lazy writing book reviews, but this book is quite good and i think it deserves my compliments. I bought this book b/c the it's a relatively clean joke book and seems to be better than the other books that i glanced thru when i was at the book store. When i started reading it, it was much better than i expected. not everything in this book is funny, but the majority is. it's not a dumb joke book, it's witty & clever & right into the point. it's worth my money. everyone who has a sense of humor would definitely love this book.

I have several Humorous Quotes books as references but I have enjoyed none of them as much as Judy Brown's new book. Ms. Brown gets her quips almost exclusively from stand-up comics and late-night talk show host soliloquies. It is organized into topics and sub-topics which make it simple to use to find just the joke you want for a speech or presentation. The cross-referencing eliminates much of the searching typical of books of this nature. An excellent choice for anyone doing public speaking or making presentations.

I'm a standup comic and I contribute jokes to Judy for her joke books. I've connected with many new fans who found me through the jokes in Judy's books. I'm glad I let Judy use my material, because despite my film and tv credits, it was Judy's use of my jokes that convinced my family that maybe this comedy thing of Basil's might pan out into something real. Thanks Judy. Her books are also great for speechwriters who need a joke about a specific topic. Her books are organized like Bartlett's Quotations, but with jokes that are actually funny.

I noticed that someone claims that Judy Brown has illegally published comedians jokes in Comedy Thesaurus. I am one of the contributors to the book and I can say that I sent Ms. Brown 15 jokes, at no charge and with my permission, to include in her book The Comedy Thesaurus. I have also contributed jokes to her book, Squeaky Clean Comedy. I must say that my dealings with Judy have been a pleasure.
All in all the Comedy Thesaurus is a great book. Buy it!

Packed with hundreds of hilarious quotes, this book is an outstanding source of humor on all topics. Comedians, writers, and funny comments from famous people of all genres fill the pages of this book. Sectioned into topics permitting one to easily focus in on their favorite subjects, the organization of this thesaurus makes it a terrific piece.

Among a few of my favorites:

"I grew up hearing such stupid things. My mother would say, 'That's the last time I'm gonna tell you to take out the garbage.' Well, thank God." - George Wallace (page 61)

"A Canadian psychologist is selling a video that teaches you how to test your dog's IQ. Here's how it works. If you spend $12.99 for the video, your dog is smarter than you." - Jay Leno (page 110)

"Some people see things that are and ask. `Why?' Some people dream of things that never were and ask, `Why not?' Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all this s---." - George Carlin (page 314)

I would recommend this book to anyone. I find it to be funny, inspirational, and uplifting. I actually use it as a daily reading and have encouraged other friends and family to purchase this book. However, I found I could not find it at my local book stores. I cannot say enough about this book!

If you want to sharpen your wit in conversations or toss out a quip in a speech, this book will provide you with all the "gems" you could ever want or possible use.

I bought this book to read cover to cover for a laugh.
After all laughter is the best medicine.
This book definitely has a diverse group of one liners and quotwes from some of the best comedians ever.
Great read and lots of worthwhile wit.
Definitely a treasure chest.