The experts' guide to the new science of making people laugh

The Big Bang

Natural Selection

E = mc2

All pretty decent theories, that beg one question: why has no-one discovered a fully unified theory for what makes jokes funny?

Well, comedy director Amanda Baker, comedy writer Abi Grant and stand-up comedian Jimmy Carr have done just that. In this book, in case that's not obvious. From how to identify the families of jokes, to decoding the building blocks of comedy, to the real - and brand new - secret to comic timing, On Jokes does for comedy what decoding the genome did for designer babies.

The essential manual for any aspiring comedian, this book can make anyone funny. Even you.

Details

ISBN13: 9781529454239
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 384
Edition:
Publication Date: 20 Oct 2026
Publisher: Quercus Publishing
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 23.4(H)x15.3(L)
Weight (gm):

Author Biography

Jimmy Carr (Author)

Jimmy Carr is one of the world's most successful stand-up comedians. He has hosted numerous TV shows, recorded 5 Netflix specials and plays to 1.5 million people in 50 countries on every tour. He's doing just fine thanks.

Amanda Baker (Author)

Amanda Baker has been working in the comedy industry for over 20 years where she has performed, written, script edited and directed over a hundred shows. She has worked with comics around the world, getting them results and awards. Amanda has been developing stand-up comics from expert to international level, pushing them to excel, evolve, improve and widen their skills and raising their middle.

Abi Grant (Author)

Abi Grant sold her first joke at 18, then went on to write for dozens of UK sketch shows. She spent nine years at the Torygraph (as one of their house reds), wrote the book for a West End musical (Olivier nom) and was head writer at Thomas the Tank Engine (BAFTA nom). Abi also spent five happy years as a producer at the BBC's World Service.

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