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  • List Price: $23.99
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How to Be Funny Paperback – April 1, 1998

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Steve Allen (Author)
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Steve Allen (Author), Bill Maher (Foreword), Jane Wollman (Contributor)
2.9 out of 5 stars 7 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 290 pages
  • Publisher: Prometheus Books; New edition edition (April 1, 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1573922064
  • ISBN-13: 978-1573922067
  • Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 8.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,245,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 starsGood book for comic writers, not for conversations.
By A Customer on September 7, 2000
Format: 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."
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1.0 out of 5 starsWon't help you be funnier
By A Customer on April 15, 2002
Format: 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.
3 Comments 27 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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2.0 out of 5 starsCould be funnier
By Amazon Customer on April 26, 2014
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I got this on the recommendation of a friend. Sadly, it's more of a term paper than a useful book.
I recommend The Comic Toolbox by John Vorhaus over this - it's much more approachable and usable.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA definite "Must Have" for anybody who needs something!
By jim@coachjim.com on November 1, 2000
Format: 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.
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