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The Elements of Humor
The Tools of Comedy that Make You Funnier, Happier, and Better Looking
"In The Elements of Humor, Scott Dikkers does indeed dissect the frog, but he does so in such a delightful way that you don’t really mind all the blood and guts. Functioning as both a Comedy 101 syllabus and an instruction manual for any extraterrestrials studying how humans process comedy, this book is required reading, especially if you’re a Scott Dikkers completist like me."
— "Weird Al” Yankovic
"Scott Dikkers is the funniest person in America."
— Entertainment Weekly
"Scott Dikkers sees the code in the joke matrix."
— Vulture
Scott Dikkers (Author)
9781394269198, Wiley
Paperback / softback, published 25 November 2024
224 pages
21.3 x 13.7 x 2 cm, 0.227 kg
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 find: 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!
Preface xiii Chapter 1 The Unknowable 1 How This Book Is Organized 7 Best Practices 8 Exercises 8 Chapter 2 What Is Humor? 9 Humor in Animals 10 Humor in Babies 10 The Universal Field Theory of Humor 11 Humor Across Cultures 12 The Lost Skill of Humor 13 The Hope of Humor 16 Best Practices 16 Exercises 17 Chapter 3 Quick Start 19 The Tone of Humor 20 Communication Plus 21 Being Aware 23 Thinking Differently 24 Embracing Failure 25 A Relaxed State 26 Best Practices 27 Exercises 27 Chapter 4 The Humor Mindset 29 A Clown State of Mind 30 An Editor State of Mind 32 Just Kidding 33 When Humor Doesn’t Work 34 Best Practices 35 Exercises 35 Chapter 5 The Right Kind of Laughs 37 A Willingness to Try 39 Being Self-Effacing 40 The Skill of Getting Laughs 41 Social Lubricant 43 A Temporary Reality 44 Riffing 45 Being Conscious of Your Target 45 A Rich Humor Environment 47 Best Practices 47 Exercises 48 Chapter 6 Being in the Moment 49 Confidence 50 The Mood of the Humorist 52 The Mood of the Audience 53 Social Proof 53 Reputation 54 Context 55 Best Practices 56 Exercises 56 Chapter 7 You Have the Floor 57 How to Communicate 59 Internal Messages 61 Turning Thoughts into Humorous Thoughts 62 Free Writing 62 Free Talking 64 The Opinion Generator 65 Best Practices 66 Exercises 66 Chapter 8 The Funny Filters 67 New Toys 69 The Funny Filters in Conversation 74 Humor Preferences 76 Best Practices 76 Exercises 77 Chapter 9 Isn’t It Ironic 79 How Irony Works 80 Simple Comparisons 81 Dramatic Irony 83 Irony Examples 84 Using Irony 85 Best Practices 86 Exercises 86 Chapter 10 What a Character 87 How Character Works 88 Characters in Context 89 Character Examples 91 Character Archetypes 92 Is Everyone a Character? 94 Where Is the Surprise in Character? 96 Best Practices 97 Exercises 97 Chapter 11 A Point of Reference 99 How Reference Works 100 How to Find Reference 102 Reference Examples 103 Avoiding Clichés 104 Using Reference with an Existing Message 105 Other Types of Reference Humor 106 Best Practices 107 Exercises 107 Chapter 12 Shock and Outrage 109 How Shock Works 110 The Appetite for Shock 112 Shock with Your Message 113 Shock Humor for Kids 114 Shock Examples 115 Best Practices 115 Exercises 116 Chapter 13 A Hilarious Parody 117 How Parody Works 118 Parody Examples 119 Types of Parody 120 Impressions 121 Best Practices 121 Exercises 122 Chapter 14 So Much Hyperbole 123 How Hyperbole Works 124 Hyperbole Examples 125 Hyperbole Pitfalls 126 Setting Up Hyperbole 126 Best Practices 128 Exercises 128 Chapter 15 Playing with Words 129 How Wordplay Works 129 Wordplay Devices 130 Popular Wordplay Devices 136 Wordplay Examples 139 Best Practices 139 Exercises 140 Chapter 16 Getting Carried Away 141 How Madcap Works 142 Madcap Examples 143 How to Use Madcap 143 Best Practices 145 Exercises 145 Chapter 17 A Good Analogy 147 How Analogy Works 148 How to Use Analogy 149 A Hidden Message 150 Analogy Examples 151 Best Practices 153 Exercises 154 Chapter 18 Misplaced Focus 155 How Misplaced Focus Works 155 How to Use Misplaced Focus 156 Misplaced Focus Examples 157 Best Practices 159 Exercises 159 Chapter 19 Going Meta 161 How Metahumor Works 162 Metahumor Examples 164 How to Use Metahumor 165 Metahumor Pitfalls 165 Best Practices 166 Exercises 167 Chapter 20 Putting It All Together 169 Combining Filters 170 Keep Playing 172 Best Practices 173 Exercises 173 Chapter 21 The Cringe Factor 175 Canceled 177 Finding a Mooring Mast 178 Following the Rules 179 Best Practices 180 Exercises 180 Chapter 22 Make It Fun 181 Discover Your Own Way 182 Good Luck 183 Have Fun 183 You Got This 184 Humor Glossary 185 Acknowledgments 189 About the Author 191 Index 193
Subject Areas: Business & management [KJ]
