The Elements of Humor: The Tools of Comedy that Make You Funnier, Happier, and Better Looking

by Scott Dikkers

Find the funny in your writing, speeches, presentations, and everyday conversations

Are you ready to elevate your writing, speeches, and conversations with unparalleled wit and comedy? Look no further than The Elements of Humor by bestselling author and comedy writing legend, Scott Dikkers. This isn't just another book on humor—it's a transformative guide that stands head and shoulders above the rest, designed to make you the funniest version of yourself.

While many writers treasure Strunk and White's Elements of Style for its writing standards and best practices, the realm of humor writing has long awaited a credible, comprehensive guide. Scott Dikkers answers the call with a book that is both hilarious and instructive, offering clear, replicable steps to infuse your writing and speaking with unforgettable humor.

In the book, you'll

Step-by-step guidance for everything from sophomoric pranks to sophisticated satire as you learn the fundamentals of crafting humor that resonates Diverse humor strategies for different kinds of funny, including self-deprecation, referential jokes, shock humor, hyperbole, wordplay, slapstick, and even meta-humor Engaging tools, including helpful diagrams, funny illustrations, interactive exercises, and a comprehensive index of all discussed tools, skills, and methods The Elements of Humor is your key to making the people around you laugh. Scott Dikkers' expert advice is easy to follow, ensuring that anyone can become a master of humor. Perfect for enhancing presentations, content creation, or everyday conversations, this book will secure a prominent place on your library shelf.

Don't miss the chance to transform your approach to humor. Whether you aim to entertain, persuade, or simply bring more joy into your life and the lives of others, The Elements of Humor is your go-to resource. Add it to your cart now and step into a world where laughter is just a page turn away!

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published December 5, 2024

About the author

Scott Dikkers is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of “How to Write Funny.” He's also the founder of TheOnion.com and The AV Club.

Scott sends out a daily tip on Substack:

https://scottdikkers.substack.com/

Be sure to follow him on BookBub for insiders deals on his books!

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/scott...

Reviews

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently, I’ve been interested in deconstructing humor, what makes a comment funny? What are the various forms of humor? How can one build up their funny bone?

This book answers all of those questions succinctly and in an entertaining way. The author is the editor-in-chief of the Onion so has quite the specialty in everything funny. I appreciated that each chapter has exercises and best practices.

Here are the key filters of humor the book dives into:
1. Irony
2. Personas
3. Point of Reference
4. Shock and outrage
5. Parodies
6. Hyperboles
7. Playing with words
8. Physical humor
9. Analogy
10. Misplaced focus
11. Meta humor

Overall, the book achieved all of its goals. I have a better understanding of the tools of comedy, feel happier and have become better looking.

I recommend this to anyone who has an appreciation and curiosity about humor!

[Ray Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a high school teacher. Over the years I’ve had many students tell me how funny I am. I have no idea why. If humor makes my class memorable, maybe there is something to it. I describe the world and what I am trying to teach as I see it. I’d like to think I’m down to Earth and relatable, so why do so many young people find me amusing? I have read books on humor and enjoyed them, but this one caught my eye. Once again, I am looking for the answer to the question: what is funny?

Scott Dikkers presents a self-help book for would be comedians. He begins by urging folks who want to be funny to relax and be themselves. First, the folks around you, or your audience, must have some rapport. Then, Dikkers explores kinds of humor and suggests exercises to help the reader to develop their humor through what he calls lenses. I liked this approach. I am not so much looking to be funny as trying to figure out why many of my students find me funny. Nevertheless, Dikkers’ book has been useful.

I liked Dikkers’ break out of ways to be funny and his analysis. I found many insights including that I am ironic and sarcastic. I also tend to see absurd twists in the reality I observe and have the skill to articulate my vision in subtle twists of language. I also invent words that combine words and meanings to express silly ideas for which Dikkers has a label, who knew? This book was lots of fun. I am not trying to be a comedian, but if I were, this would be a go to. If, like me, you are not pursuing a career in comedy, this book will still bring lots of smiles as you think of ways you, friends, family, and humorists you’ve enjoy, employ these lenses and comedic techniques. This was a good read!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertainment & Engagement:
Great. The book is filled with entertaining anecdotes, strong examples, and plenty of humour. The content is highly engaging, especially for readers interested in what makes things funny.

Educational Value:
Great. This book is not just about how to be funnier, but also about understanding why things are funny. It also offers insightful observations on human interaction and psychology.

Effort, Accessibility & Aesthetic Impact:
Excellent. It’s an extremely easy read, broken into short, bite-sized chapters. Even young teenagers could get through it comfortably. The book includes glossaries, lists, and other tools to make the content more digestible and applicable.

Practical Application:
Excellent. Each chapter ends with best practices and exercises to help readers apply and refine the skills discussed.

Value for Writers:
Great. This book is a great resource for anyone looking to incorporate more humour into their writing. It also explores topics like irony, analogies, and political correctness, making it useful for much more than just comedy. I found it extremely helpful for my writing overall.

[Kerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imagine teaching a baby to laugh by teaching it the muscles of the mouth, then the muscles not in the mouth, then which muscles to contract.

This is similar to how this book teaches being funny. I felt embarrassed to be told to smile, to be confident, to not swear in front of the wrong audience. And yet, I know the advice comes from years of observations of unfunny people not knowing why.
think this bottom-up approach somehow treats unfunny people as more alien to funny people than they are.

Occasionally there would be nuggets of actionable technical advice: don't do character humor with a character too complex, limit shock humor, balance your playful and editing sides. But if I were to write this book to be more useful, there would be examples of comedy we already laugh at as a starting point, a dissection of those examples, then exercises that start at a midpoint in the build of the joke (rather than: 'take a situation and apply irony to it').

Tldr; we know explaining a joke doesn't make it funny, evidently it doesn't make it replicable either.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love about this book is the tools it gives you. It helps break down why things our funny. The examples are clear and the exercises it gives are great. The biggest thing is going to be practice. You’ve got to find time to put in the effort and try the filters in different settings and places.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hint rehashed and robotic (like season seven of a sitcom) if you've read his other work, but insightful enough. It is currently being used as a coaster for a Pabst Light; I wish it the best in its journey.

[Christopher Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to the elements of humor. It even prompted me to buy his book How To Write Funny. One note: if you're already naturally funny, it probably won’t go as deep as you hope, but it will highlight what you do well.

[C22English · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dikkers approaches humor with a surgeon’s scalpel—precise, analytical, yet never losing the essence of spontaneity. A fascinating breakdown of what makes us laugh and why it matters.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather than a "joke book," readers will find "The Elements of Humor" to be a thoughtful, detailed, and patient guide for how to craft all forms of humorous expression.