Customer Reviews

Speaker's Handbook of Humor

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This is essential tool to help spice up almost any talk for it distills the experience of one of America's top comedy writers. It also contains sage advice about giving speeches and remarks which will help you overcome nervousness. But the main reason to keep this handy is to ensure that your remarks are not dull and you keep your audience alert and alive. Its size is also a plus for it's easy to carry or keep at your desk.

OK it is a given that the jokes and humor are dated and not on the cutting edge for today's audiences but the basics are there to create presentations that could be very effective. The author Robert Orben was a top humorist in his day and he has insight on ways to handle public speaking that make sense even in today's world.

I used the book as a guide and "rebuilt" and "reworded" jokes and ideas to update them to be in tune with the time we now live in. There is really some great advice given about speak making in general. I think if you are anyone who has to make public talks on occasion or all the time - then you should have this volume in your personal library as a resource. It is a good investment.

This book is published in 2000, but the jokes all read like they're from the 1950's. These jokes are insipid. Do yourself a favor and find something better. I'm returning my copy.

After reading the book I came away with the sense that, with the right preparation and practice, a person can learn to be an effective public speaker. Entries on audience assessment, the opening two minutes of a speech, spicing up dull speeches, overcoming writers block, and finding good stories were helpful.

I agree with other reviewers that most of the one-liners and short comedy stories belong to another era. However I do not believe it diminishes the value of this handbook. Orben's stories of writing for comedians and presidents make the book engaging.

Orban recommends joining a Toastmaster's group to practice various aspects of public speaking. I would add that, in addition to reading books like this, watching and listening to public speakers is a helpful way to learn to speak, especially as it relates to comedy.

My brother is a professional humorist and because I was preparing a presentation, and for the first time I decided to use humor, he recommended this book. I briefly ready through it at his home, enough to know that it provides the basics for using humor in presentations - and does it well. I bought my own copy to study it thoroughly and keep as a reference.

Orben has been around for quite a while. In the 50s and 60s he wrote a lot of booklets that helped comedians. In the 70s he switched to helping business people. And it certainly does take a comic genius to make some of those people funny. In fact, he was so good that a President of the United States requested his services (maybe more than one?) Somebody who is more 'comedian' oriented might not go for Orben these days. But he certainly has plenty of good things to tell the professional speakers. Anything negative about the book? Would have preferred a more workable Table of Contents and an Index. Getting back to positives, a good poker player has to remember what cards were played and a good "funny man" has to remember what joke to tell. And believe Benjamin Franklin once said something like this: "You have to know when to be quiet, and you have to know the right moment to talk, and when you talk you have to know what to say." And not only did he say that, but he published many wise sayings. But getting back to Orben, his ideas and lines could help your presentation.

I have not read this particular book, but I did read 2,000 Sure Fire-Jokes for Speakers. It should be titled,"2,000 Ways to Get a Tomatoe Thrown at You or Jokes to say to Embarass Yourself at an Event". I'm serious. I would not recommend any of his books.