The Psychology of Comedy

The Psychology of Everything

by G Neil Martin

What makes us laugh? Why is comedy so important? How does comedy affect our behaviour? The Psychology of Comedy provides a unique insight into the role of laughter and humour in our lives. From the mechanics of comedy and what makes a good joke, to the health benefits of laughter, the book delves into different types of comedy, from slapstick to complex puns, and the physiological response it provokes. The dark side of comedy is also considered, confronting the idea that what is funny to some can be offensive to others, making this universal experience also highly subjective. In a time when comedy continues to be one of the most popular and enduring forms of art, The Psychology of Comedy reminds us that laughter really is good for the soul.

Genres: Psychology

174 pages, Paperback

Published August 18, 2021

Reviews

[Chris Boutté · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an early copy of this book, and it’s insanely good. Prior to reading it, I figured it was going to be a sort of self-help book with pop psychology about how humor can improve your mood and how to integrate it in your life. But I was way off, and Neil Martin wrote the first book I’ve read laying out the psychology of comedy. I really enjoyed learning the various theories of humor and the section on the psychology of comedians. Martin provides a ton of studies that I didn’t even know were out there. By the time I finished this book, I better understood my own sense of humor (both the healthy and unhealthy aspects of it), and so much more. I would end this review by saying that Martin covered everything you could imagine about the psychology of comedy, but in the conclusion, he mentions all the topics he couldn’t fit into this book. So, I hope this book takes off so we get a sequel because this book is such a great read for anyone who enjoys psychology and comedy.

[Richard F · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a book review, so I'm not an academic or anything in the field of psychology.

This book was kind of middle of the road for me. It was informative but not really in a readable way. It is chock full of references to and outcomes of studies (and the author often gives his opinion on whether he considers a study is reliable or not), so if it is information you are after there is plenty of that.

If however you want a general overview of the topic delivered in a digest able way then this is not really that kind of book. The author has appeared on a few podcasts so it is worth finding those before dipping into this.