Joke Farming
How to Write Comedy and Other Nonsense
$30.39
- Paperback
304 pages
- Release Date
17 December 2025
Summary
The winner of four Emmys, a Peabody, and two Writers Guild Awards (all of which badly need dusting) explains his process for writing comedy without going insane.
Philosophers may debate the meaning of comedy (thankfully keeping them too busy to fall into a life of crime), but the rest of us are more likely to wonder how we can make an audience laugh—or at least, how to entertain our friends and followers. According to award-winning comedy writer Elliott Kalan…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780226829920 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0226829928 |
| Author: | Elliott Kalan |
| Publisher: | The University of Chicago Press |
| Imprint: | University of Chicago Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 304 |
| Release Date: | 17 December 2025 |
| Weight: | 367g |
| Dimensions: | 216mm x 140mm x 20mm |
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What They're Saying
Critics Review
“With this book, Kalan generously shares the secrets to his craft… . This is perfect for those who have an upcoming speech, those looking to convey an important message while still entertaining the audience, and of course, anyone looking to pursue comedy professionally. He shares the repeatable steps that can be followed to take an idea to a fully formed gut buster. This book comes at a perfect time; while so many people are beckoned by generative computers for thoughts and comebacks, Kalan is making sure that there will be a future of genuine human comedy and a world of laughter to boot.” * Booklist *
“A guide to timing, vocabulary, humor, and how to be funnier that’s not only great for would-be comedians and fans of stand-up but anyone giving a wedding speech.”
* The Globe and Mail *“Kalan has always been hilarious, and Joke Farming is a shining example of his talent and expertise—which surprised me, because I really thought he had been winging it. A seat of the pants type thing. Live and learn.” – Jon Stewart“Kalan gives a tantalizing peek behind the sausage and shows how the curtain is made.” – Kristen Schaal“Kalan is one of the sharpest comedic minds that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with. For as talented as he is at making comedy, he’s also someone who appreciates the craft of comedy and sharing it with others. His book Joke Farming serves as both an instructive guide for anyone looking to infuse humor into their work and a thoughtfully researched compendium of satire, highlighting generations of funny minds from the silent film era to stand up to the current social media comedy scene.” – Wyatt Cenac“A wonderful, thoughtful, insightful, and funny book about comedy and how it works.”
* Judge John Hodgman *“I love this book.”
* 99% Invisible *“One of the funniest and smartest people I’ve ever met… . [A] wonderful book.”
* Bullseye with Jesse Thorn *“Someone mentioned this book to me the other day and I haven’t been able to put it down … Joke Farming is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn how to write jokes or improve their writing and storytelling skills.”
* Diya Eats Well *“This book was stellar. It would be easy for a book about joke creation and construction to end up being dry and clinical but this book is anything but. Kalan’s signature wit comes through on every page. I cannot recommend this enough.”
* Disciples of Boltax *About The Author
Elliott Kalan
Elliott Kalan is an Emmy, Peabody, and Writers Guild Award–winning television writer and producer whose credits include head writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and head writer for the reboot of Mystery Science Theater 3000, among other shows. He is currently executive producer and head writer for the forthcoming Ghostbusters animated series on Netflix. He also hosts or cohosts the podcasts SmartLess Presents: ClueLess, The Flop House, and The Power Broker, a limited series from 99% Invisible. Additional writing credits include the history podcast Presidents Are People, Too!, the children’s sketch comedy show The Who Was? Show, three children’s picture books, and comic book series for Marvel and DC Comics.
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