How to Be Funny/Paper [Paperback]

Steve Allen (Author), Jane Wollman (Author), Bill Maher (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1998

No one knows more about comedy than Steve Allen. For decades as a writer, performer, and keen observer of the social scene, he has looked into every aspect of who's funny, what's funny, and why. Now he shares his discoveries in a book designed to help every reader develop his or her special talent for funniness. For anyone who wants to be a more amusing conversationalist, a more effective public speaker, or just more fun to be around, HOW TO BE FUNNY is as foolproof as a Steve Allen punch line.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a gold mine of ideas...Frankly, even if you don't care about becoming funny yourself, HOW TO BE FUNNY is fun to read." -- Digby Diehl, Prodigy

"A humorist with intellectual credentials and an effective performer as well, Steve Allen offers expert advice on his craft." -- George L. George, Back Stage/Shoot

About the Author

Steve Allen is the creator of NBC's "Tonight Show" and PBS's award-winning "Meeting of Minds." He has authored dozens of books. Jane Wollman is a journalist who writes regularly for "The New York Times," "Newsday," "USA Today," and "Esquire."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573922064
• ISBN-13: 978-1573922067
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #888,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book for comic writers, not for conversations., September 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Be Funny/Paper (Paperback)

Originally I bought this book to become funnier in my conversations with others. The title seemed to imply that this would happen, but after reading the book, I found it to be a beginer's book for the comic writer and stand-up comedian. Very little was mentioned about how to develop a funny personality. A total of 10 pages out of 290 were devoted to formulas of why things are funny and this list of reasons was lacking in comprehensiveness. Although I do not doubt Steve Allen's ability to write funny material, I feel he lacks when it comes to writing analytical material. This book should have been titled "How to be a Comic Writer."

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Won't help you be funnier, April 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Be Funny/Paper (Paperback)

I found this book to be very disappointing. It is very poorly written and organized. Though the book claims to be written in 1998, it was clearly written in the early 1980s, so all of the references are extremely dated. For example, it still talks about how Joan Rivers as a hot young comedienne. There are pages and pages of transcripts from old Steve Allen bits that aren't funny at all in writing, and are so dated that they contain many references and words I didn't understand.

As the title implies, I expected it to help me develop a better sense of humor by providing analysis on why things are funny and instructing how to apply those techniques. It does very little of this. It mainly focusses on the improvisational wordplay techniques that Steve Allen developed and used in his career, which if I used I think people around me would find very annoying. Very little of the information in the book can be applied to everyday life. For example, I had no use for the sections on writing comedic television scripts, being a talk show host, doing stand up comedy, or how to sell jokes to established comedians.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A definite "Must Have" for anybody who needs something!, November 1, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Odenton, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Be Funny/Paper (Paperback)

HOW TO BE FUNNY is a book unlike any other. How else would we tell them apart?

Steve Allen's contribution to students of comedy and wit is a wonderful one indeed. Allen and his co-author have a book-long conversation about what is funny, what isn't, and more importantly *why* some things are funnier than others. Whether you want to write funny, talk, walk, or think funny, Steve Allen includes page after page of examples from his radio and television career. My copy is well-worn --albeit slightly small and tight around the waist -- with passages highlighted and underlined.

If you aren't funny (or funnier) after reading this book, well, then try eating it. That will definitely make you feel funny for a little while.