Humor Theory: Formula of Laughter [Paperback]

Igor Krichtafovitch (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1598002228 | ISBN-13: 978-1598002225 | Publication Date: February 3, 2006

At last, the resution of eternal puzzle: WHY PEOPLE LAUGH. Igor Krishtafovich discovered a formula of laughter. As it turned out, humor is a weapon. Humor is a bloodless verbal fight aiming to raise your status and strengthen your position. Even a friendly banter is a sort of intellectual clash, a kind of training before serious battles. In fact, we try to figure out who's the boss in the family when we poke fun at our loved ones. "If laughter is akin to aggression, why women have a liking for jesters?" "A sense of humor is a strong male quality. It is a sign of good intellect. Evolution stakes precisely on the intellect since a smart fellow has more chances of survival. That is why a sense of humor can be a much bigger sign of masculinity than the pumped-up muscles".

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Igor Krichtafovitch is a renowned scientist in the field of high voltage electrical engineering and air purification. He came to the US in 1994 after successful career in the former Soviet Union.
Author of dozens of International patents and scientific publications.
Also the author of numerous articles on Christianity and science.
Well known satirical poet, wrote many parodies and epigrams (all in Russian).

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The formula of laughter is primarily for comedians, writers who write satirical pieces, politicians and for people with strong sense of leadership. A good joke can effectively entice the voters.

The formula is as following:

HE = PI x C/T + BM

PI - personal involvement

C - complexity of a joke. The higher degree of complexity the better provided that your audience can solve the problem within 1 or 2 seconds.

T - time spent by a person solving a joke. The longer the time, the weaker the effect.

BM - background mood. A joker can have an advantage if an audience enjoys the show. However, a real good joke can "blow up" the most dismal audience.

HE - humor effectiveness.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (February 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598002228
• ISBN-13: 978-1598002225
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars complex yet practical, May 14, 2010

By 

Alex M. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Humor Theory: Formula of Laughter (Paperback)

I give this book five stars and applaud the originality of author's thought. This is a very special book for a very special reader.

It is easy to see why some readers would be left disappointed over this book. Both the content and the presentation are complex and multi-dimensional. The author provides an all-encompassing view of humor, derives a mathematical equation describing the effect of humor on people, and dissects a broad range of jokes and anekdotes. To appreciate the book, one needs to be accustomed to a rigorous critical thinking - a trait is not shared by the majority of readers interested in the subject of humor.

What makes this book great is the recipe of humor, a methodology that one can adapt for real-life situations to advance their social status in dating, career growth, public speaking, or family life. The reader that is open to the complexity of presented analysis will find this book fascinating and eye-opening. What's more, the derived "formula of laughter" is a tasty intellectual tidbit, which captures human behavior in an amazingly accurate way.

This book could be a foundation for a practical guide "learn to be funny," but to reach the hearts of broader audience, but it would have to be written in a simpler language and would have to include more examples that readers could relate to.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book to read, March 8, 2006

By 

Leon Jay (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Humor Theory: Formula of Laughter (Paperback)

Increased confidence, reduced stress, and family connection are direct derivatives of the inclusion of real theory of humor in the daily life. This is the theme of Igor Krichtafovitch's book; he artfully illustrates with humor theory and practical tools for implemtation. "Humor Theory" should be a nearby reference for all those who want to succeed.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Interesting and Insightful, June 8, 2010

By 

Rasa Petrauskaite "Rasa" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Humor Theory: Formula of Laughter (Paperback)

The book describes the specifics of creating jokes, such as where to place the punch line. It advises the joke-teller to create a riddle that the audience has to solve. Yet the audience needs to solve it quickly. That way, the listeners will experience joy. The joke needs to be concise, so that it keeps the interest of the audience.

Here is a summary of the formula:

Concision + riddle + easy to understand punch line = laughter

I highly recommend this book to anyone who aspires to develop a great sense of humor.