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How to Be Funny: The One and Only Practical Guide for Every Occasion, Situation, and Disaster
An invaluable guide on how to "lighten up" from a distinguished pro who has provided laughs for JAY LENO, BILLY CRYSTAL, STEVE MARTIN, ROBIN WILLIAMS, BRAD GARRETT, WHOOPI GOLDBERG, AND MANY MORE.
Who hasn't wished for the perfect withering comeback line, a clever tension-breaking quip, or a winning flirtatious remark? Being funny is hard work and not everyone is a natural. How to Be Funny is a witty guide that teaches readers precisely how to be funnier in everyday life. It's a must-read for anyone who has to speak in public, be engaging and funny at work or at play, or who hopes to one day go out on a date.
Jon Macks, a comedy writer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Academy Awards, the Emmy Awards, Hollywood Squares, and the nation's top comedians, politicians, and corporate leaders, knows his funny business. Here he demystifies the process of making people laugh, breaks down the basic building blocks and types of humor -- which include self-deprecation, misdirection, deadpan delivery, sarcasm, and "the reverse" -- and reveals the best approaches to use in common situations.
How to Be Funny features helpful (and hilarious) tips and anecdotes from the comic legends Mack's worked with -- including Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, Gilbert Gottfried, Billy Crystal, Rita Rudner, Dave Barry, and Carrie Fisher -- in his eleven years as one of the nation's top television writers.
Whether the goal is to give a memorable public address or deliver a killer line with friends, How to Be Funny is a charming, instructive, and practical read.
Who hasn't wished for the perfect withering comeback line, a clever tension-breaking quip, or a winning flirtatious remark? Being funny is hard work and not everyone is a natural. How to Be Funny is a witty guide that teaches readers precisely how to be funnier in everyday life. It's a must-read for anyone who has to speak in public, be engaging and funny at work or at play, or who hopes to one day go out on a date.
Jon Macks, a comedy writer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Academy Awards, the Emmy Awards, Hollywood Squares, and the nation's top comedians, politicians, and corporate leaders, knows his funny business. Here he demystifies the process of making people laugh, breaks down the basic building blocks and types of humor -- which include self-deprecation, misdirection, deadpan delivery, sarcasm, and "the reverse" -- and reveals the best approaches to use in common situations.
How to Be Funny features helpful (and hilarious) tips and anecdotes from the comic legends Mack's worked with -- including Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, Gilbert Gottfried, Billy Crystal, Rita Rudner, Dave Barry, and Carrie Fisher -- in his eleven years as one of the nation's top television writers.
Whether the goal is to give a memorable public address or deliver a killer line with friends, How to Be Funny is a charming, instructive, and practical read.
179 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 21, 2010
Edited 8-21
Though shy, my husband tells jokes well and is a good speaker. He instinctively gets the pacing right and doesn’t meander. One of his favorite jokes is “Good news/Bad News,” because it can be adapted as a segue into nearly any speech. The basic joke goes as follows:
What’s funnier, though, is when my husband tries to tell a joke when his mother and brother are present. His brother is profoundly deaf, and my mother-in-law yells each line—but screws it up—as my husband tries to proceed.
For example, if he started with the first line of the joke above: “Two friends John and Dave were two huge baseball fans.”
She would yell, “THERE WERE TWO GUYS – DAVE AND JERRY!”
My husband would say, clearly irritated, “No; that’s not the point! They loved baseball, and they were good friends.”
She would yell, “YEAH, AND THESE TWO GUYS WENT TO BASEBALL GAMES!”
...This would continue until my husband was mad, I was laughing, and the joke was in tatters.
Jon Macks’ book is designed for people who want to inject humor into their everyday conversations. I bought the book because I’m working up a course on humor and thought it might be relevant. However, the book’s premise is interesting. I wonder how well this really works. My husband—who’s already funny—would probably balk at the non-spontaneous nature of much of Macks’ suggestions, such as pre-arranged funny things you can say on an elevator, like “I swear; I’m going to beat this indictment,” or “Is that a chalk body outline in the corner?” My mother-in-law who’s unintentionally hilarious would be unlikely to profit from the book. My own hunch is that you’re either funny or not; using a book like this might just make you both unfunny and obnoxious.
I thought Macks’ style was good—breezy with lots of examples of humor. However, because he wrote for Jay Leno and clearly is chummy with a number of the other comics he mentions frequently—such as Carrie Fisher, Dave Barry, or Rita Rudner—too much of the book comes across as an homage to these comedians. Macks is at his best when he explains and provides examples of the principles of humor. When he tries to invent scenarios in which to use this rather scripted humor, such as in the elevator, when trying to pick someone up, in an argument with your spouse, or in the workplace, the humor and premise get a little strained.
If you want to understand some of the techniques of humor, the book is a quick, light read, though rather scant. However, if humor’s never been your bag, this book isn’t going to turn you into Groucho Marx.
Though shy, my husband tells jokes well and is a good speaker. He instinctively gets the pacing right and doesn’t meander. One of his favorite jokes is “Good news/Bad News,” because it can be adapted as a segue into nearly any speech. The basic joke goes as follows:
Two friends John and Dave were two huge baseball fans. Their entire lives, John and Dave talked baseball. They went to 60 games a year. They even agreed that whoever died first would try to come back and tell the other if there was baseball in heaven.
One night, John passed away in his sleep after watching the Yankee victory earlier in the evening. He died happy. A few nights later, his buddy Dave awoke to the sound of John's voice from beyond.
"John is that you?" Dave asked.
"Yes, it's me," John replied.
"This is unbelievable" Dave exclaimed. "So tell me, is there baseball in heaven?"
"Well I have some good news and some bad news for you. Which do you want to hear first?"
"Tell me the good news first."
"Well, the good news is that yes there is baseball in heaven."
"Oh, that is wonderful, So what is the bad news?"
"You're pitching tomorrow night."
What’s funnier, though, is when my husband tries to tell a joke when his mother and brother are present. His brother is profoundly deaf, and my mother-in-law yells each line—but screws it up—as my husband tries to proceed.
For example, if he started with the first line of the joke above: “Two friends John and Dave were two huge baseball fans.”
She would yell, “THERE WERE TWO GUYS – DAVE AND JERRY!”
My husband would say, clearly irritated, “No; that’s not the point! They loved baseball, and they were good friends.”
She would yell, “YEAH, AND THESE TWO GUYS WENT TO BASEBALL GAMES!”
...This would continue until my husband was mad, I was laughing, and the joke was in tatters.
Jon Macks’ book is designed for people who want to inject humor into their everyday conversations. I bought the book because I’m working up a course on humor and thought it might be relevant. However, the book’s premise is interesting. I wonder how well this really works. My husband—who’s already funny—would probably balk at the non-spontaneous nature of much of Macks’ suggestions, such as pre-arranged funny things you can say on an elevator, like “I swear; I’m going to beat this indictment,” or “Is that a chalk body outline in the corner?” My mother-in-law who’s unintentionally hilarious would be unlikely to profit from the book. My own hunch is that you’re either funny or not; using a book like this might just make you both unfunny and obnoxious.
I thought Macks’ style was good—breezy with lots of examples of humor. However, because he wrote for Jay Leno and clearly is chummy with a number of the other comics he mentions frequently—such as Carrie Fisher, Dave Barry, or Rita Rudner—too much of the book comes across as an homage to these comedians. Macks is at his best when he explains and provides examples of the principles of humor. When he tries to invent scenarios in which to use this rather scripted humor, such as in the elevator, when trying to pick someone up, in an argument with your spouse, or in the workplace, the humor and premise get a little strained.
If you want to understand some of the techniques of humor, the book is a quick, light read, though rather scant. However, if humor’s never been your bag, this book isn’t going to turn you into Groucho Marx.
October 31, 2021
Really enjoyed the book, you had to dig for the nuggets yet there is a lot there, plus it explains how a career in the industry is developed, what it looks like so far, and shows where it took the author. A riveting read.
November 9, 2024
There are better books on this topic.
The examples are outdated fine, but so many are just not funny. The end has funny examples but little explanation on how such a joke is created, the aspects of a joke etc..just the type of situation that calls for a joke and which not and whether it should be self detracting or not. Other books have actually helped you create humour not just list examples . The exercises are about as descriptive as call a friend make a joke ....
The examples are outdated fine, but so many are just not funny. The end has funny examples but little explanation on how such a joke is created, the aspects of a joke etc..just the type of situation that calls for a joke and which not and whether it should be self detracting or not. Other books have actually helped you create humour not just list examples . The exercises are about as descriptive as call a friend make a joke ....
August 6, 2019
I, personally, loved the book. It goes over in a simple manner the fundamentals of this science. I also studied this book, and the slides can be found on Quizlet. Anyway, it is much simpler than reading Bergson's Laughter, or a more complicated book on comedy. Wonderful.
Jeff (Author of Modicum).
Jeff (Author of Modicum).
February 27, 2021
Pros:
- funny
- fundamentals of what makes something funny
Cons:
- mean jokes
- references to funny people and shows that i don’t get
- funny
- fundamentals of what makes something funny
Cons:
- mean jokes
- references to funny people and shows that i don’t get
Read
December 28, 2023There are a lot of references to (former) US celebrities, politicians or tv shows.
January 20, 2021
A book about comedy that actually utilizes the principles the author is teaching throughout the book! You know you can trust the guy, because the book is actually hilarious. Who better to trust to learn how to write comedy, than a man who is literally doing it right in front of you??
Not to mention his tips are incredibly useful and practical!
Highly recommend!
Not to mention his tips are incredibly useful and practical!
Highly recommend!
April 3, 2014
Книга, несомненно, пригодится всем, кто мечтает стать звездой Comedy Club или тому подобной петросянщины. Во всяком случае, после прочтения этой книги 95% всех Comedy-шуток станут для вас понятными (в смысле то, как они сочиняются) как дважды два.
Я люблю хорошие шутки, и (как мне кажется) у меня иногда получается хорошо шутить. Но смех - эмоция многоликая. От примитивного "чиста поржать" (подобные звуки издают животные, когда они просто сытно покушали и хорошо отдохнули), до утончённой иронии.
Вообще юмор - одна из самых интеллектуальных эмоций. Хорошая шутка по сути дела является изящным афоризмом, фиксирующим глубочайшие жизненные парадоксы.
Я не ханжа - всякому овощу своё время. Есть ситуации, когда и примитивный юмор хорош. Но есть и современная массовая культура, когда с примитивным юмором перебор, а вот с мудрым и тонким юмором - просто беда :(
Можно ли научиться шутить с помощью этой книги? Нууу, не знаю... Я приведу пару примеров из книги, а выводы делайте сами. Например, рекомендуемая на юбилее дамы шутка: "Она настолько стара, что в её влагалище завелись мыши". Или вот: "Если вы пукнули, то скажите, что давно мечтали завести собаку, чтобы можно было говорить, что это она сделала". Нуржунимагупросто... :(
Почему я все-таки поставил книге 2 балла, и не отнёс её к категории "полный трэш"? В книге есть и совсем немного полезной информации. Например, про 10 типов шуток, которые можно использовать в повседневном общении и в публичных выступлениях. По каждому из 10 типов шуток в книге есть домашние задания (я лично их все сделал - было очень увлекательно ;))
Есть 13 неплохих советов (вообще по тексту их гораздо больше) о том, как придумывать и конструировать шутки. Некоторые советы банальны (вроде "чем короче шутка, тем она лучше"), но некоторые довольно любопытны.
Хотите составить своё собственное мнение? Книгу можно взять, к примеру, здесь: http://www.koob.ru/macks/funny
Я люблю хорошие шутки, и (как мне кажется) у меня иногда получается хорошо шутить. Но смех - эмоция многоликая. От примитивного "чиста поржать" (подобные звуки издают животные, когда они просто сытно покушали и хорошо отдохнули), до утончённой иронии.
Вообще юмор - одна из самых интеллектуальных эмоций. Хорошая шутка по сути дела является изящным афоризмом, фиксирующим глубочайшие жизненные парадоксы.
Я не ханжа - всякому овощу своё время. Есть ситуации, когда и примитивный юмор хорош. Но есть и современная массовая культура, когда с примитивным юмором перебор, а вот с мудрым и тонким юмором - просто беда :(
Можно ли научиться шутить с помощью этой книги? Нууу, не знаю... Я приведу пару примеров из книги, а выводы делайте сами. Например, рекомендуемая на юбилее дамы шутка: "Она настолько стара, что в её влагалище завелись мыши". Или вот: "Если вы пукнули, то скажите, что давно мечтали завести собаку, чтобы можно было говорить, что это она сделала". Нуржунимагупросто... :(
Почему я все-таки поставил книге 2 балла, и не отнёс её к категории "полный трэш"? В книге есть и совсем немного полезной информации. Например, про 10 типов шуток, которые можно использовать в повседневном общении и в публичных выступлениях. По каждому из 10 типов шуток в книге есть домашние задания (я лично их все сделал - было очень увлекательно ;))
Есть 13 неплохих советов (вообще по тексту их гораздо больше) о том, как придумывать и конструировать шутки. Некоторые советы банальны (вроде "чем короче шутка, тем она лучше"), но некоторые довольно любопытны.
Хотите составить своё собственное мнение? Книгу можно взять, к примеру, здесь: http://www.koob.ru/macks/funny
May 24, 2022
I honestly only finished this book out of morbid curiosity. I got this frère at a library book give away and I think I was overcharged.
2003 was a weird time for comedy- a time when all you had to do to be funny was to make an islamaphobic statement and then either call a woman Fat, a slut, or both. Maybe it’s unfair to judge this book by 2022 standards, but I’m doing that anyway. The best thing about this book was that it made me feel so great to be alive now, in this dystopia, rather than being stuck in a time like that again.
It’s written by a longtime writer for Jay Leno and it shows. A good source if you’d like to be funny in a way that makes you come off as a racist, sexist prick. So, good for conservatives I guess.
2003 was a weird time for comedy- a time when all you had to do to be funny was to make an islamaphobic statement and then either call a woman Fat, a slut, or both. Maybe it’s unfair to judge this book by 2022 standards, but I’m doing that anyway. The best thing about this book was that it made me feel so great to be alive now, in this dystopia, rather than being stuck in a time like that again.
It’s written by a longtime writer for Jay Leno and it shows. A good source if you’d like to be funny in a way that makes you come off as a racist, sexist prick. So, good for conservatives I guess.
June 25, 2015
About as funny as a rubber crutch.
For those of us who are already great jokesters, this book is like reading an English primer. As one reviewer commented some of the material presented is funny but some should probably not be used publicly unless you desire rotten tomatoes tossed in your face. Or worse.
A coworker gave this book to me for a birthday a few years back. The gift was meant to be funny. I'm known for my puns at work and elsewhere.
For those of us who are already great jokesters, this book is like reading an English primer. As one reviewer commented some of the material presented is funny but some should probably not be used publicly unless you desire rotten tomatoes tossed in your face. Or worse.
A coworker gave this book to me for a birthday a few years back. The gift was meant to be funny. I'm known for my puns at work and elsewhere.
December 21, 2010
I've had a couple of successful results, making people laugh, after reading this book, and it's an enjoyable read.
December 1, 2023
Currently reading How to be funny
October 16, 2011
Sense of humor too critical
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews