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Only Joking: What's So Funny About Making People Laugh?
Britain’s hottest young comedian presents a seriously funny, up-close look at joking matters—from the social origins of laughter, to the art and craft of humor, to why we can never remember the punch line—featuring over 300 jokes.
As the host of the hit game show Distraction (now in its third season on Comedy Central) and one of the premier stand-up acts working today, award-winning comedian Jimmy Carr has won over millions of fans around the world with his trademark rapier wit, laced with “exquisitely economical and perfectly timed one-liners” (The Guardian). For this book he teams up with friend and fellow comedy writer Lucy Greeves to take an in-depth look at where humor comes from and how it works, through exploring its purest form: the joke.
As the host of the hit game show Distraction (now in its third season on Comedy Central) and one of the premier stand-up acts working today, award-winning comedian Jimmy Carr has won over millions of fans around the world with his trademark rapier wit, laced with “exquisitely economical and perfectly timed one-liners” (The Guardian). For this book he teams up with friend and fellow comedy writer Lucy Greeves to take an in-depth look at where humor comes from and how it works, through exploring its purest form: the joke.
Only Joking begins with the mechanism of laughter—how it happens and why even infants do it—then delves into the power of the punch line, exploring the basics of all jokes, from the use of shock and surprise to advanced stand-up techniques such as the “pull-back/reveal.” Carr and Greeves go on to explore taboo humor, jokes that bomb, and the psychology of finding something funny. They look into the long-standing connection between politics and humor, and discuss the survival prospects for contentious jokes in the current political climate. Throughout the book they conjure up a supporting cast of colorful joke enthusiasts, from Sigmund Freud to Lenny Bruce, and discuss their influence on the jokes we tell today. Surveying across national, ethnic, and gender divides, this rollicking analysis of why joking will always be close to the human heart is an irresistible exploration of humor that makes clear why we need a good laugh now more than ever.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published September 21, 2006
42 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
About the author
Jimmy Carr
10 books130 followersJames Anthony Patrick "Jimmy" Carr (born 15 September 1972) is an English comedian and humourist, known for his deadpan delivery, dark humour, and use of edgy one-liners. He is also a writer, actor and presenter of radio and television. Carr moved to a career in comedy in 2000 and has become a successful British comedian. After becoming established as a stand-up comedian, Carr began to appear in a number of Channel 4 television shows, most notably as the host of the panel show 8 out of 10 Cats.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 10, 2014
The best book I've ever read about humor and laughing, from one of my favorite comics too. Very deep and serious examination of humor, its history, its functions, its value. Great, great jokes too!
February 6, 2016
This was fantastic. I'm a huge fan of Jimmy Carr, so I was expecting an informative book with a humorous and engaging narrator. I was not disappointed. (Kudos to Lucy Greeves as well for her part in the writing--don't want to leave her out, because they co-wrote this so flawlessly that I don't know who wrote what). I enjoyed the scattered jokes, the observations on the role humor plays in our lives, and the stories about the effects humor has had on specific people throughout history.
To save anyone else the issue I had in finding this book here in the states, it's the book the British humorously call "The Naked Jape." Same book, new title, slightly changed for our tender 'Murcan sensibilities. Hopefully this will now show up in Google searches to help other travelers in the world of comedy and humor research (anyone who reads this book will wish there were more travelers like us. It's such a great topic!).
To save anyone else the issue I had in finding this book here in the states, it's the book the British humorously call "The Naked Jape." Same book, new title, slightly changed for our tender 'Murcan sensibilities. Hopefully this will now show up in Google searches to help other travelers in the world of comedy and humor research (anyone who reads this book will wish there were more travelers like us. It's such a great topic!).
July 29, 2008
Fascinating book about the history of jokes, why we laugh, etc. and it contains a lot of jokes that are great fun. A wonderful summer read.
November 25, 2016
Jimmy Carr is a British comic who doesn't do bits, chunks or long form observations. He writes and performs jokes and has thought a lot about that process. This book explores what makes us laugh and traces the sociology and history of jokes. At the bottom of every page is a joke, some unattributed, some by Carr and many by others. Carr and co author Greeves met at Cambridge and their prose is informed and entertaining. Highly recommended. This book was published in the UK as "The Naked Jape." The version I read is called, "Only joking: What's so funny about making people laugh?"
March 17, 2016
It's been a few years since I read it, but the more I think about it, the more I believe this is the best non-fiction book I've ever read, leaving a more lasting impression on me, as a person, than any other.
October 31, 2015
The text is rather not funny, giving an wide-ranging analysis of jokes and history, etc. Many of the "bottom-of-the-page" (one on most every page!) jokes are pretty funny, and the section of longer jokes before every chapter holds many funny ones also.
Overall, a decent read.
Overall, a decent read.
September 28, 2015
This is a good overview of the research and theory behind humor. The authors try a little too hard to be funny themselves; sometimes I would rather read it in a straightforward tone. It's fun and interesting, though, very well-researched, and a good gateway to other resources in the field.
March 14, 2010
An interesting book on the subject of jokes.
Compiled by the comedian Jimmy Carr ("Throwing acid is wrong. In some people's eyes.")
Compiled by the comedian Jimmy Carr ("Throwing acid is wrong. In some people's eyes.")
February 2, 2013
Plenty of entertaining jokes, plus interesting observations on humor.
July 9, 2025
Comedians are thoughtful and intellligent
but more importantly, and strangely, a timeless profession.
a lot more wisdom about their craft (our craft?) stuffed in here
During lockdown, i often held company with a giant book of 1 liner jokes i'd bought from blossoms. Everytime you flicked upon a random page, you'd get lost in a completely different period, location, context.. all unified by the pursuit of the grin.
"what's morally right about comedy"
"when did it all begin?"
"why is it different globally?"
"how has comedy's relationship with religion & politics moved on over centuries?"
"why does stand up comedy work?"
"how to be funny?"
If you've ever wondered^, or want to now, go for it!
but more importantly, and strangely, a timeless profession.
a lot more wisdom about their craft (our craft?) stuffed in here
During lockdown, i often held company with a giant book of 1 liner jokes i'd bought from blossoms. Everytime you flicked upon a random page, you'd get lost in a completely different period, location, context.. all unified by the pursuit of the grin.
"what's morally right about comedy"
"when did it all begin?"
"why is it different globally?"
"how has comedy's relationship with religion & politics moved on over centuries?"
"why does stand up comedy work?"
"how to be funny?"
If you've ever wondered^, or want to now, go for it!
March 5, 2025
This book was published in 2006 and in England. So the discussion of “forbidden” topics/groups/race/etc was actually interesting not just a woke v anti-woke rant.
February 19, 2020
I really love Jimmy Carr's act, but this book needs to pick a lane between being funny and analyzing humor. It doesn't go deep enough into the analysis to actually derive any meaningful insights. And it doesn't stay silly enough to be funny. So I found this book disappointing and frustrating, which was a surprise for me since seeing Jimmy interviewed on the subject was very interesting.
In the chapters on joking about Gender, Race and Religion, it doesn't really do any useful analysis but gives a decent roadmap to avoiding controversy while paying lip service to the idea of pushing the envelope. The bibliography is way more interesting than the text on these subjects. Or would have been if it had taken shots at both sides of the aisle. The last chapter really made me feel like this was a cash grab rather than an honest look at the nature of humor.
In the chapters on joking about Gender, Race and Religion, it doesn't really do any useful analysis but gives a decent roadmap to avoiding controversy while paying lip service to the idea of pushing the envelope. The bibliography is way more interesting than the text on these subjects. Or would have been if it had taken shots at both sides of the aisle. The last chapter really made me feel like this was a cash grab rather than an honest look at the nature of humor.
March 14, 2019
A book that looks into origins and theories of humour, as well as the development of restrictions on joking. I found the brief insights into the complex balance between encouraging free speech and discouraging hate speech very interesting. The whole thing was well paced and punctuated with a variety of jokes.
On a more pernickety note I found that the arguments weren't all well developed and lacked impartiality. Clearly there is an agenda, but I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if there had been more depth into the fascinating issue of what we can/should joke about. The last chapter was less about tying points together to form a cohesive argument and more focused on putting a positive spin on the points brought up.
On a more pernickety note I found that the arguments weren't all well developed and lacked impartiality. Clearly there is an agenda, but I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if there had been more depth into the fascinating issue of what we can/should joke about. The last chapter was less about tying points together to form a cohesive argument and more focused on putting a positive spin on the points brought up.
February 2, 2010
I hoped this would further my understanding of What is Funny. (And the next question: Why.) It didn't.
However, the introduction about the difference between British and American humor was quite engaging. (Are we Yanks really much less agile with irony?) Unfortunately, the book went on to be a light-weight prance through the social history of jokes and a mediocre review of the humor studies in the sciences.
BUT at the bottom of most of the pages are jokes. Read these. Some are the funny you are looking for. Okay, here's one: What has four legs and goes "AAaaaa"?
A sheep without lips.
However, the introduction about the difference between British and American humor was quite engaging. (Are we Yanks really much less agile with irony?) Unfortunately, the book went on to be a light-weight prance through the social history of jokes and a mediocre review of the humor studies in the sciences.
BUT at the bottom of most of the pages are jokes. Read these. Some are the funny you are looking for. Okay, here's one: What has four legs and goes "AAaaaa"?
A sheep without lips.
April 12, 2009
Nice compilation of jokes. The biography is a little light, as may be expected of a lesser known comedian. But the jokes cover the breadth of standards (like the one about the Jewish grandmother's kid who gets swept out to sea) and brief kid pleasers (like "What do you call a fish with no eyes? Ans: fsh!").
Along the way, Carr tries to dissect humor. It's a valiant effort, but it doesn't really engage the reader. Probably because it's too dry.
Recommended for the jokes.
Along the way, Carr tries to dissect humor. It's a valiant effort, but it doesn't really engage the reader. Probably because it's too dry.
Recommended for the jokes.
December 21, 2013
More research on the development of "funny": I was genuinely surprised to learn such useful information from a book authored by a comedian, but I suppose that is what makes him an expert on the subject! His writing partner (and wife) is an academic, and the result is a nice balance between punchlines and historical/sociological references.
January 27, 2018
There are two versions of this, the original British title (The Naked Jape: Uncovering The Hidden World Of Jokes) and the revised version for American readers (Only Joking: What's So Funny About Making People Laugh?). I read the latter. You might call it a sociology of joke-telling, and as such it's largely successful.
January 6, 2020
Comprehensive and Funny
The research and analysis done by Jimmy and Lucy are commendable. To make a book about joking and laughter but at the same time making it not sound too pedantic goes to show the care taken by the authors to be as inclusive as possible. Loved it
The research and analysis done by Jimmy and Lucy are commendable. To make a book about joking and laughter but at the same time making it not sound too pedantic goes to show the care taken by the authors to be as inclusive as possible. Loved it
June 2, 2011
Pretty good book for a comedian who's soooo not funny.
June 27, 2018
I like Jimmy Carr but this was a poor excuse for a book. If this was a joke, well, it was a fucking joke!
February 22, 2020
I was looking for a book on how to apply laughter but found little of it in this book. It's more of a historical view. I was not fully engaged with the book.
Read
April 26, 2020This is a book that we read for book group that I didn't read but am still putting it on here so I have all of our books on here.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews