Customer Reviews

Isaac Asimov's Treasury of Humor

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In an age where humor is often laced with profanity or based on the ridicule of others, it is very pleasant to find a collection that is largely clean and often cerebral. This book contains a recollection of Isaac Asimov's favorite jokes along with instructions on how to deliver them. While Asimov is well-known as a prolific author, he was also a very funny man, possessing a sense of comedic timing that helped him earn hefty fees as a speaker.
While the jokes are good, it is clear that many of them would have to be delivered in the right manner to be funny. As you read Asimov's commentary, it is not difficult to imagine someone telling the story to maximum effect. Therefore, the book could also be used as a source for material as well as a primer on how to deliver an ice-breaking joke at the start of a public speech.
Isaac Asimov was a very talented man, capable of writing well about anything. His sense of humor was highly developed, something that is obvious from this book. I enjoyed it immensely and have occasionally used some of the jokes in my classes

I found this book when I was on a business trip and needed some entertainment in the evening. Most of the jokes and anecdotes lead to a good chuckle and some are hilarious. What appeals to me most about this book is the commentary that Asimov supplies in the way of background to each piece of humor.

This not only shows you the great jokes of all time,
but also HOW to tell the jokes, with examples and samples.
Isaac Asimov does it again.
For everyone who loves telling jokes, this is THE book to get.

The ONLY humor compilation I've ever seen in which I laughed at almost all of the jokes. Asimov's commentaries are equally entertaining. Much better than the sequel, "Asimov Laughs Again."

I have an older edition of this book...it is priceless. I enjoy it whenever I need a break - keep it at work. We all need humor, and Asimov had the kind of quirky sense of humor that enriches our lives....get this book.

While not for everyone, for those who truly enjoy Asimov, this book is a must. Some of the jokes are laugh out loud funny, some will make you smile and some will make you read the explanation over and over again trying to figure them out. Of course, the explanations ARE the best part of the book. They provide more insights into the man and his times and are a joy to read. I also recommend I. Asimov - A Memoir and Yours, Isaac Asimov.

If you have never written a review for Amazon, here is what happens after you write your review and select the 'Publish Review' button: it takes you to a 'Thank You for Your Review!' page, which invites you to write more reviews. The page displays 8 products - which you have either purchased or told them you own.

In time, after you have submitted many reviews, you will begin to realize that the 8 products suggested for review are not chosen at random. There are products that I have bought that have never appeared in this list, but there are others which show up time and again: one such is: 'Isaac Asimov's Treasury of Humor.'

Asimov is one of my favorite authors. He is well known for his great science fiction tales in his Foundation series and for his three laws of robotics in his robot novels. He also has written numerous science essays - collected into books - which are both entertaining and crystal clear. Therefore, I had high expectations . . . .

My copy arrived. I didn't have to read too many pages before I realized that I was going to be disappointed. I found most jokes unfunny; the main problems being: they are stale, make reference to people who most now living would not recognize, and depends on knowledge of ethnic stereotypes. My first impression: this book was only a 2!

Perhaps my first impression was wrong. During my second reading, I couldn't help but notice that in several of his commentaries, even Asimov expressed a few doubts about this book. After having slogged through it this second time, I tried to convince myself to raise my rating up to a 3 . . . .

Alas - sorry Isaac - my rating is still a 2.

I didn't find this collection funny, but here are a few examples from the 640 presented so you can judge for yourself. The jokes presume a sense of 1950's morality, with a Judeo-Christian slant.

103: The doctor looked benignly at the woman who had come in for an examination. "Mrs. Brown", he said, "I have good news for you." The woman said, "I'm glad to hear it doctor, but I'm *Miss* Brown." "Miss Brown", the doctor said without changing expression, "I have bad news for you."

267: An astronaut is pictured outside a space capsule at the end of a long curved lifeline. He is at the entrance hatch, knocking, speaking furiously. The caption reads: "What do you mean, 'Who's there'?"

484: Joseph the carpenter was hammering away in old Galilee when he hit his thumb a good one. He swore loudly, and his boy came in from the next room and asked, "Did you call me Dad?"

626: It is reported that Dorothy Parker was asked to use the word 'horticulture' in a sentence and promptly answered: "You can lead a horticulture, but you cannot make her think."

I found this book very entertaining and a good laugh when I needed it. Each piece has a nice context to make it even funnier and that's what I liked most about it.

This is an unusual book. Like much of Isaac Asimov's written material, it is not obvious what you are getting into until a little ways into the book. It can be appreciated on many levels depending on what the reader wants to get out of it. At the surface level this is a book full of very funny jokes which are, for the most part, relatively clean and free of meanness. At another level this is a book on how to tell jokes. A lesser writer would kill the humor of the jokes with all the how-to manual stuff, but Asimov is a genius who makes it entertaining. At yet another level this is a book of literary snapshots into the life of the late great Isaac Asimov.

You can get as much or as little out of this book as you want. I read it about two years ago and don't remember a single joke. Nor did it turn me into an any less abysmal joke teller; but that isn't what I was trying to get out of it. I was only looking for several hours of light reading with some laughs thrown in, and that is exactly what I got. Anyone looking to dig deeper into the book can learn how to be the life of any party. And if you so desire, you can even approach this book from an academic (or armchair academic) perspective and learn about the philosophy of humor itself.

What is humor? Why are things funny? If you want to know you can start your investigation into those questions with this book. Or if you just want some good laughs that aren't dumbed down for the sitcom crowd, you will find those here too.