Great insight into comedy writing
597844
Really enjoyed this book. Loved the insights offered by the various writers.  I enjoyed being introduced to some older writers I was not aware of. I'm not a big fan of The Onion so I thought there were too many writers interviewed with connections to that publication. Overall, a recommended reading for aspiring writers. Would love to read more.
4002431
I was first introduced to the comedy of Michael Showalter through his Comedy Central show with Michael Ian Black, "Michael and Michael Have Issues." I heard about the book and was excited to see what it was about; being an avid fan of the show, I decided to buy the book, and expected a few hearty laughs based on my appreciation for Showalter on the show. From cover to cover, I laughed out loud. Whether I was laughing on the subway, on a park bench, in my house, or in Borders when reading the first chapter, this book kept me thoroughly entertained, kept a smile on my face, and got me some weird looks from onlookers.

Showalter is brilliant. His humor is often times subtle and other times right there, in your face. He has picked up on the most arbitrary of things - a "Table of Contents," for example - and turned them into gems of comedy. His segments on mixtapes, his fears, his high school poetry, Q&A's, and other anecdotal bits were hilariously enlightening and spot-on.

Now, as an avid fan of Showalter's work (Wet Hot American Summer, Stella, The State, The Baxter, The Showalter Showalter, etc.), I can say that this book has been an inspiration. As an aspiring novelist, I found this book incredible inspiring. While I write fiction, Showalter's clear, to-the-point piece of creative nonfiction was fantastically composed and wonderfully written.

In an interview I saw live in NYC with Showalter, he described the book as a "heartbreaking work of a staggering genius." Although he jokes about it, I think it's pretty close - he is a comedic genius, and this book is heartbreakingly funny, entertaining, makes you think about the small things in life and teaches you how to find humor in them.
2513547
I'm a big fan (ahem) of Patton Oswalt's stand up and other work.  This short collection of essays is informed by his English major nerd background and is by turns funny, insightful and poignant.  On at least three occasions I laughed so hard I got light headed from oxygen deprivation.  Here's hoping this won't be his last effort.
4577697
Insightful, hilarious, and fun - this book was a joy to read. Definitely get the actual book, rather than the kindle version, as the book is composed of colored drawings, just like the author's blog. Though this was a really quick read (the book is basically a gathering of cartoon-style annotated drawings), it was well worth the money. I read the book over a couple of evenings as my husband watched tv and I'm sure I was really annoying to him, as I kept laughing out loud and insisting on showing him pages from the book that were particularly hilarious.

Some of the book is repeated from the blog, but a large part of the material is new. It was well worth the price!
1047577
After laughing out loud just from reading the introduction I knew that Watching Grandma Circle the Drain was going to be hilarious. I find that I enjoy non-fiction if it's humorous and luckily, Watching Grandma Circle the Drain is really funny.

The majority of the chapters were essays on personal observations and the author's experiences. I found that they were really insightful as well as adding a comedy aspect. The part after that was a collection of news articles that were made up by Allen Smith and they are very funny.

Some of my favourite chapters were the one about the instruction manual, that one had me laughing so much, and another favourite would be the article about the man who married himself. Of course, there are so many really hilarious parts that it is hard to pick out just one or two.

If you're a fan of humour and you're looking for something that is light and comedic, you'd definitely enjoy this one. I found it to be a good relaxing read, it just helps you to unwind after a long and tiring week. Definitely check out Watching Grandma Circle the Drain.
2967656
I loved this book!  It made me laugh out loud and shares key information about all areas of comedy
from someone who really knows the business. DB Gilles includes everything from current examples
of TV spec scripts, to blogs, websites, and clips to check out. It also inspired me to attempt other areas
of comedy writing I hadn't considered before.  "You're Funny", along with DB's "The Screenwriter Within",
will be the books on my shelf I reach for when I am looking for motivation, inspiration, or honest and
practical how-to advice!
3322203
Writing ABOUT comedy -- as opposed to comedy writing -- is often the least-funny writing one can read. So what surprised me most about this wonderful book is Steve Martin's ability to write ABOUT comedy in an honest, yet still smile-inducing way. What comes through loudly and clearly is just how hard he worked on his *craft* during his stand-up comedy years. He (being a bit too hard on  himself) claims that he had no talent so he's an example of what hard-work can accomplish. No doubt, he worked hard -- and stuck with his work for years beyond what most people would endure. For any lover of Steve Martin's important role in the evolution of comedy -- or who loves tales of dogged determination -- I can't recommend this book more highly.
3005795
I enjoy Greg's writing.  It is concise, makes relevant points and mixes humor with his insights.  I particularly respect his willingness to admit a mistake (in this case as it relates to his views of Trump).  Greg is willing to adjust his views based upon reality.  If you enjoy any of the following wits: Mark Twain, H.L. Menken, P.J. O'Rourke or Groucho Marx (yes Groucho actually authored a book or two), then the Monologues are a must buy.  It is both enlightening and entertaining, which is no small feat. Greg mail me the two dollars you promised for five stars!
4236933
This book was written as advice for other writers, so it has a more limited audience than his regular humor titles. As a writer, I found it spot-on and lots of fun!
2962372
I am a tough critic as I've authored several books on writing and business writing. Write Like a Pro is easy to read, in fact, enjoyable to read. Dr. Hausman has a wry sense of humor that creates a relationship with the reader and encourages him/her to continue reading. Through use of example. Dr. Hausman tells readers not only what to do and not do, but also how to write different products well. His use of short, pithy paragraphs draws the reader into each chapter and through each section. In general, I don't enjoy non-fiction, but this book kept me reading to the very end.
4011017
This book is very well-written. Its insightful and yet very funny. Enjoyed it very much!
4729342
As a comedian myself I must say that Dave Schwensens book an insiders  guide to standup comedy is on of the best I have read...and I've read many,  many on the subject !! I wish I had this book when I first started out!  It  contains everything you will need to be on the road to succesfull stand up  comedy.  Included along with tips on how to arrange your press information  and book yourself on the road are stories and interviews with some of the  BIGGEST stars in Stand up comedy today.  I actually read the book and  learned  a great deal about how to improve my own standing in the industry  and have found it actually helped !! Even if you have a casual interest in  comedy and are curious about the inner workings of one of the biggest  pieces of the entertainment industry, I would greatly reccomend Dave  Schwensens " how to be a working Comic: an insiders guide to a carrer  in Stand up Comedy"
Matthew Disero
1602348
So many great conversations with amazing people in and outside the mainstream comedy world. Fabulous. Also, there are some cool insights into writing on "The Larry Sanders Show".
2296874
Peppiatt's career has a fascinating story arc, and the anecdotes are very entertaining. I would like to have seen more about the nuts and bolts of comedy writing itself (Peppiatt's creative process, his collaborations with Aylesworth, and so forth), but this book is more suitable for a general audience (and not just diehard comedy geeks like me).
1811435
I got ahold of Mr. Toplyns book last week, and have been devouring it ever since. As a professional comedy writer looking to break into the highly specific world of late night television, this book has been a godsend. I have purchased many comedy how-to books, and I have found this book to be among the most useful that I have come across for a few reasons:

*Specificity.
Many instructional comedy books try to cover the entire spectrum of the comedy field, but don't delve deeply into any one particular area. This book, however, focuses like a laser beam on exactly the information you need to know to GET A LATE NIGHT COMEDY WRITING JOB.

*Experience.
The book is written by a guy who has actually worked in the field, and at an extremely high level (He was a head writer for both Leno and Letterman!).  This means that when he empties out the knowledge in his head onto the pages of this book, it is coming from a place of experience and an acute understanding of how these shows actually operate.

*An actual submission packet.
If you intend to work on one of these shows, you will need to put together a packet of material. But it helps to have seen an actual copy of what this should look like so that your material doesnt end up looking amateurish just because of the way it is presented.

I could go on. But if you want to work for a late night show, you are doing yourself a real disservice if you don't pick this book up.
2314233
I am going to start by saying how much I love the format of this book. It's not quite short stories or essays, its more like what you would expect from a blog entry. To me this book is like a years worth of blogging neatly packaged up with some awesome artwork into a convenient package.

This guy could be a stand-up comedian I would imagine. He has an interesting way of viewing life, and manages to find the humor in most every situation. I particularly love how he can write in a way that anyone can identify with. Either you have been there, or know someone who has been there which makes the stories that much more hilarious. The author doesn't take things to seriously and the reader will love him for that!

One of my favorite stories "Hair", is about the strange places we find hair, and how evolution should have taken care of this issue by now. Another favorite starts with the words "You might be a hot mess if..." and is fantastic! "Grumpy Old Men" is hilarious because, lets face it, we all know one!

All in all this book is great. I highly recommend.
2056128
This story about the misuse and abuse of the English language was funny. It frequently caused me to laugh out loud.  Jon Lymon's use of "words," and deliberately incorrect punctuation added to the humor by creating pacing in the story, making it similar to listening to a comedy routine.

The first section covered the misuse of the language. The humor was similar to that of Richard Lederer, who wrote, "Crazy English." (If you like this story, you should check out that book.) In the second section, he takes on the role of the fashion police.  In the third section, he turns his attention to food. Next, he provides observations on his fellow city dwellers. He goes on to discuss technology, sports and work, and then wraps it up with a miscellaneous section.

There was a little British slang in the piece, but it was easy to understand. One of the great things about the Kindle is that you can press on a word, and then read about the meaning and origins in the dictionary with very little effort. This was an interesting way to gain a little insight into British culture through the use of informal language.