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Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard
by Kiran DesaiAn Indian village descends into comical chaos when a bumbling young man decides to live in a tree in this “enchanting . . . meticulously crafted” novel (The New York Times).Sampath Chawla was born in a time of drought into a family not quite like other families, in a town not quite like other towns. After years of failure at school, failure at work, of spending his days dreaming in tea stalls, it does not seem as if Sampath is going to amount to much—until one day he climbs a guava tree in search of peaceful contemplation and becomes unexpectedly famous as a holy man, sending his tiny town into turmoil.A syndicate of larcenous, alcoholic monkeys terrorizes the pilgrims who cluster around Sampath’s tree, spies and profiteers descend on the town, and none of Desai’s outrageous characters goes unaffected as events spin increasingly out of control.
Humans: A Brief History of How We F*cked It All Up
by Tom Phillips'This book is brilliant. Utterly, utterly brilliant. Apart from the epilogue, which is idiotic' Jeremy Clarkson'F*cking brilliant' Sarah KnightAN EXHILARATING JOURNEY THROUGH THE MOST CREATIVE AND CATASTROPHIC F*CK-UPS OF HUMAN HISTORYIn the seventy thousand years that modern human beings have walked this earth, we've come a long way. Art, science, culture, trade - on the evolutionary food chain, we're real winners. But, frankly, it's not exactly been plain sailing, and sometimes - just occasionally - we've managed to really, truly, quite unbelievably f*ck things up.From Chairman Mao's Four Pests Campaign, to the American Dustbowl; from the Austrian army attacking itself one drunken night, to the world's leading superpower electing a reality TV mogul as President... it's pretty safe to say that, as a species, we haven't exactly grown wiser with age.So, next time you think you've really f*cked up, this book will remind you: it could be so much worse...FURTHER PRAISE FOR HUMANS:'Very funny' Mark Watson'A light-touch history of moments when humans have got it spectacularly wrong... Both readable and entertaining' The Telegraph'Chronicles humanity's myriad follies down the ages with malicious glee and much wit ... a rib-tickling page-turner' Business Standard'A timely, irreverent gallop through thousands of years of human stupidity' Nicholas Griffin, Ping-Pong Diplomacy: The Secret History Behind the Game That Changed the World
Humans: A Brief History of How We F*cked It All Up
by Tom Phillips'This book is brilliant. Utterly, utterly brilliant' Jeremy Clarkson'F*cking brilliant' Sarah KnightREAD FOR YOU BY CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED COMIC AND HUMAN NISH KUMAR, THIS IS AN EXHILARATING JOURNEY THROUGH THE MOST CREATIVE AND CATASTROPHIC F*CK-UPS OF HUMAN HISTORY.In the seventy thousand years that modern human beings have walked this earth, we've come a long way. Art, science, culture, trade - on the evolutionary food chain, we're real winners. But, frankly, it's not exactly been plain sailing, and sometimes - just occasionally - we've managed to really, truly, quite unbelievably f*ck things up.From Chairman Mao's Four Pests Campaign, to the American Dustbowl; from the Austrian army attacking itself one drunken night, to the world's leading superpower electing a reality TV mogul as President... it's pretty safe to say that, as a species, we haven't exactly grown wiser with age.So, next time you think you've really f*cked up, this book will remind you: it could be so much worse...FURTHER PRAISE FOR HUMANS:'Very funny' Mark Watson'A light-touch history of moments when humans have got it spectacularly wrong... Both readable and entertaining' The Telegraph'Chronicles humanity's myriad follies down the ages with malicious glee and much wit ... a rib-tickling page-turner' Business Standard'A timely, irreverent gallop through thousands of years of human stupidity' Nicholas Griffin, Ping-Pong Diplomacy: The Secret History Behind the Game That Changed the World(P)2018 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
Humans: A Brief History of How We F*cked It All Up
by Tom Phillips“If Sapiens was a testament to human sophistication, this history of failure cheerfully reminds us that humans are mostly idiots.” —Greg Jenner, author of A Million Years in a DayNow an International BestsellerA Toronto Star–Bestselling Book of the YearModern humans have come a long way in the seventy thousand years they’ve walked the earth. Art, science, culture, trade—on the evolutionary food chain, we’re true winners. But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, and sometimes—just occasionally—we’ve managed to truly f*ck things up.Weaving together history, science, politics and pop culture, Humans offers a panoramic exploration of humankind in all its glory, or lack thereof. From Lucy, our first ancestor, who fell out of a tree and died, to General Zhou Shou of China, who stored gunpowder in his palace before a lantern festival, to the Austrian army attacking itself one drunken night, to the most spectacular fails of the present day, Humans reveals how even the most mundane mistakes can shift the course of civilization as we know it. Lively, wry and brimming with brilliant insight, this unique compendium offers a fresh take on world history and is one of the most entertaining reads of the year.“It’s hard to imagine someone other than Phillips pulling off a 250+ page roast of mankind, but his perfect blend of brilliance and goofiness makes it a joy to read.” —Buzzfeed“With the delicate touch of a scholar and the laugh-out-loud chops of a comedian, Tom Phillips shows us how our species has been messing things up . . . [for] four million years.” —Steve Brusatte, New York Times–bestselling author
Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World
by Matt ParkerAn international bestsellerThe book-length answer to anyone who ever put their hand up in math class and asked, &“When am I ever going to use this in the real world?&” &“Fun, informative, and relentlessly entertaining, Humble Pi is a charming and very readable guide to some of humanity's all-time greatest miscalculations—that also gives you permission to feel a little better about some of your own mistakes.&” —Ryan North, author of How to Invent Everything Our whole world is built on math, from the code running a website to the equations enabling the design of skyscrapers and bridges. Most of the time this math works quietly behind the scenes . . . until it doesn&’t. All sorts of seemingly innocuous mathematical mistakes can have significant consequences. Math is easy to ignore until a misplaced decimal point upends the stock market, a unit conversion error causes a plane to crash, or someone divides by zero and stalls a battleship in the middle of the ocean. Exploring and explaining a litany of glitches, near misses, and mathematical mishaps involving the internet, big data, elections, street signs, lotteries, the Roman Empire, and an Olympic team, Matt Parker uncovers the bizarre ways math trips us up, and what this reveals about its essential place in our world. Getting it wrong has never been more fun.
Humblebrag: The Art of False Modesty
by Harris WittelsFrom comedian and writer (Parks and Recreation, Eastbound & Down) Harris Wittels comes a hysterical breakdown of boasts, brags, and self-adulation disguised as humble comments and complaints-based on his popular @humblebrag Twitter feed.Something immediately annoyed Harris Wittels about Twitter. All of a sudden it was acceptable to brag, so long as those brags were ever-so-thinly disguised as transparent humility, such as:"Just filed my taxes. Biggie was right, mo money mo problems.""I hate when I go into a store to get something to eat and the male staff are too busy hitting on me to get my order right :( so annoying!"Taking action by naming this phenomenon and creating the Twitter account called Humblebrag-dedicated solely to retweeting the humblebrags of others-Wittels's new word took the Internet by storm. Harris also shows readers what humblebrags might look like from some of history's most notable names, as well as devoting an entire chapter to a man who just might be the greatest humblebraggart of them all...
Humbug Holiday: (A Christmas Carol) (Cracked Classics #4)
by Tony AbbottFor two sixth graders who feel about school the way Scrooge feels about Christmas, a magical trip into Dickens&’s tale is just what their spirits need. It&’s Christmastime at Palmdale Middle School, and the sixth grade class has organized a holiday banquet for local families in need. Best friends Devin and Frankie—short for Francine—are excited to eat, but they forgot to bring in food donations. They also didn&’t read A Christmas Carol for Mr. Wexler&’s English class. While the two fight over the school&’s last copy, the library&’s magic security gates suddenly transport them straight into Charles Dickens&’s timeless tale, where they come face to face with grouchy Ebenezer Scrooge, who&’s about to get a wake-up call from some ghosts on Christmas Eve. As the ghosts show the stingy Scrooge the consequences of all the selfish choices he&’s made in life, Devin and Frankie come to realize that they too have a few things to learn about kindness and generosity. Reluctant readers &“Devin and Frankie are wisecracking underachievers and their characterizations and dialogue ring true&” in Tony Abbott&’s Cracked Classics series (School Library Journal).
Humbug Holiday: A Christmas Carol (Cracked Classics #4)
by Tony AbbottBah, humbug! Frankie and Devin are pretty grouchy about getting transported into "A Christmas Carol", but they have never met someone as grouchy as Ebenezer Scrooge. As they take the fastest ghost-guided tour of all time, the duo can't help but try to soften up crabby old Scrooge himself... just in time for the holidays.
Humor
by Terry EagletonUN PASEO POR LOS LUGARES FUNDAMENTALES QUE OCUPA EL HUMOR EN LA CULTURA OCCIDENTAL, CON EL GUÍA MÁS AUTORIZADO (Y GRACIOSO). ¿Por qué nos reímos? ¿Qué ganamos con tanta carcajada? ¿Es el humor un agente subversivo o un remedio para las tensiones? ¿Cómo definir el ingenio? Escrito por un reconocido maestro de la comedia, este libro es una muestra perfecta de la naturaleza del humor y de sus funciones. Armado de agudas ocurrencias y un buen puñado de excelentes chistes, examina con mirada crítica las principales teorías del humor, como la idea de que este brota de la incongruencia o de que es el reflejo de una forma ligeramente sádica de sentimiento de superioridad con respecto a los demás. Terry Eagleton nos guía a las entrañas del humor basándose en una amplia gama de fuentes literarias y filosóficas, acompañado de Aristóteles, Rabelais, Hobbes y Freud, entre muchos otros, pero apoyándose también en ejemplos como los Monty Python o la stand-up comedyy deteniéndose en los mecanismos psicoanalíticos que subyacen al humor y en su evolución social y política a lo largo de los siglos. La crítica ha dicho...«Una prosa rebosante de paradojas, vituperios y chistes absolutamente desternillantes.»The Guardian «Si Terry Eagleton no existiera habría que inventarlo.»Simon Critchley «Una introducción concisa y divertida, con un análisis sensato del papel contradictorio del humor en la política. Eagleton es un guía ingenioso y tenaz, además de tremendamente gracioso.»Harper's «Delicioso y admirable. Cada frase es sencilla pero aporta una idea nueva. Se puede abordar como una lectura rápida y divertida, o como una lectura sosegada para explorar las profundidades ocultas que acechan detrás de cada nuevo ejemplo. Una espléndida puerta de entrada al tema.»Popmatters
Humor Me, I'm Over the Hill
by Barbara Johnson"They say the best way to grow old is not to be in a hurry about it, and Lord knows, I've put it off for as long as I could." says humorist and encourager Barbara Johnson. But old age happens... with little or no effort on our part.
Humor Me: A Novel
by Cat ShookFor fans of Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld, a hilarious, heartfelt novel about the healing power of female friendship, unexpected love, and stand-up comedyPresley Fry is not amused. She’s been an assistant at the Late Night Show for way too long, she’s adopted a “business casual” approach to dating to save herself from the embarrassment of seeking genuine connection, and she’s content to let her gregarious roommate, Isabelle, orchestrate her entire social life. Not completely disillusioned, Presley is enamored with the world of stand-up comedy. The joy she finds in discovering up-and-coming comedians is enough for now.Presley is still reeling from her mother's death, which still knocks the wind out of her every time she reaches for the phone. Enter Susan Clark, her late mother's childhood best friend. Susan is married to the head of the network where Presley works, and is determined to take Presley under her wing. She’s equally determined to connect Presley with her son, the bright and affable Lawrence, who couldn’t be further from Presley’s type.As Presley grapples with the loss of her mother and finds her people among those who seek out comedy to make the world a bit brighter, Humor Me reminds us that friendship can emerge from where you least expect it and that shared laughter can ease the deepest pain.
Humor and Chinese Culture: A Psychological Perspective (Routledge Studies in Asian Behavioural Sciences)
by Xiaodong YueThis book addresses psychological studies of humour in Chinese societies. It starts by reviewing how the concept of humour evolves in Chinese history, and how it is perceived by Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism respectively. It then compares differences in the Western and the Chinese perceptions of humor and discusses empirical studies that were conducted to examine such differences. It also discusses the cultural origin and empirical evidence of the Chinese ambivalence about humor and presents empirical findings that illustrate its existence. Having done these, it proceeds to discuss psychological studies that examine how humour is related to various demographic, dispositional variables as well as how humour is related to creativity in Chinese societies. It also discusses how humour is related to emotional expressions and mental health in Chinese society as well. It concludes with a discussion on how workplace humor is reflected and developed in Chinese contexts. Taken together, this book attempts to bring together the theoretical propositions, empirical studies, and cultural analyses of humor in Chinese societies.
Humor and Power in Algeria, 1920 to 2021 (Public Cultures of the Middle East and North Africa)
by Elizabeth M. PeregoIn times of peace as well as conflict, humor has served Algerians as a tool of both unification and division. Humor has also assisted Algerians of various backgrounds and ideological leanings with engaging critically in power struggles throughout the country's contemporary history. By analyzing comedic discourse in various forms (including plays, jokes, and cartoons), Humor and Power in Algeria, 1920 to 2021 demonstrates the globally informed and creative ways that civilians have made sense of moments of victory and loss through humor. Using oral interviews and media archives in Arabic, French, and Tamazight, Elizabeth M. Perego expands on theoretical debates about humor as a tool of resistance and explores the importance of humor as an instrument of war, peace, and social memory, as well as a source for retracing volatile, contested pasts. Humor and Power in Algeria, 1920 to 2021 reveals how Algerians have harnessed humor to express competing visions for unity in a divided colonial society, to channel and process emotions surrounding a brutal war of decolonization and the forging of a new nation, and to demonstrate resilience in the face of a terrifying civil conflict.
Humor and the Civil War: Comedy from America's Darkest Hours
by Mark Twain Bret Harte Ambrose Bierce Josh Billings Artemus Ward John Richard Stephens Alf Burnett Orpheus C. Kerr Petroleum V. NasbyPresident Abraham Lincoln said he wouldn't have been able to survive the Civil War without his jokes and amusing stories. That war was by far the greatest struggle the United States has ever faced. More Americans died in the Civil War than in all of the other wars combined. Americans--both North and South--endured very hard times and suffered terrible tragedies, and yet they maintained their sense of humor. They even printed jokes on the front page of newspapers, mixed in with the top news stories.Mark Twain is, of course, the most famous humorist of the nineteenth century, but there were others who were famous then that aren't quite as well known now. What they wrote still holds up well today and deserves to be revived. These humorists include Abraham Lincoln's favorites: Artemus Ward, Orpheus C. Kerr, and Petroleum V. Nasby. There's also Josh Billings, Alf Burnett, Bret Harte, and Ambrose Bierce. Even Abraham Lincoln himself was noted for his many funny stories and jokes. And people were still writing humorous stories involving the war at the end of the century, when O. Henry came along. This book includes all of them, along with some rare pieces by Mark Twain.Here's just one example: "During the war a Southern editor, wishing to compliment Confederate General Pillow, wrote a notice of him, in which the General was called the 'battle-scarred hero,' but the typesetter made the phrase read, the 'battle-scared hero.' On reading the notice, the irate soldier hied himself to the newspaper office, and demanded a correction. This was promised, and the next day's paper spoke of General Pillow as a 'bottle-scarred hero.'"This book draws together the very best of the Civil War's humor, parodies, burlesques, funny anecdotes, jokes, satire, personal experiences, tall tales, and wit. Retrieved through extensive research from books, newspapers, speeches, letters, and personal diaries, some of this material hasn't been published since the war. (345 pgs., 8 ill.)
Humor for a Sister's Heart
by Howard BooksCelebrate the Bond of Sisterhood When it comes to sisters, there's plenty to laugh about -- and this joyful book is filled with humorous stories about the special relationship that sisters share. Sisters share secrets, sorrows, success, and sometimes silliness. It's this sense of sharing that brings sisters so close -- and in that closeness, there are all kinds of reasons to laugh. You'll giggle and grin as you read stories from some of your favorite authors and comedians -- like Patsy Clairmont, Martha Bolton, Karen Scalf Linamen -- and new friends you'll delight in getting to know. Whether sisters by family, faith, or friendship, you'll find yourself -- and your sister -- reflected in stories of childhood antics, shopping trips, midnight heart-to-heart talks, and the many shared "oops!" of life. Whether for yourself or your sister, this cheerful infusion of humor will bring joy to a day that's dreary and giggles to one that's already glorious.
Humor for the Holidays
by Shari MacDonaldCelebrate the holidays with the marvelous gift of humor! Holidays can be both fun and frustrating, can't they? All the chaos that goes with the holidays can make you grin or groan. What you need for happy holidays is to have your stocking stuffed with tasty bits of humor. Imagine reaching into your stocking and finding a hilarious story by Patsy Clairmont, pulling out funny-bone ticklers by Martha Bolton, Jack Hayford, and Tim Wildmon, and discovering goodies to make you giggle by many other gifted writers. So grab a cup of wassail, curl up in your favorite chair, and indulge yourself with this heart-lifting book of holiday cheer -- it's stuffed full of special surprises to raise your spirits and add joy to your world!
Humor in Contemporary Junior Literature (Children's Literature and Culture)
by Julie CrossIn this new book, Julie Cross examines the intricacies of textual humor in contemporary junior literature, using the tools of literary criticism and humor theory. Cross investigates the dialectical paradoxes of humor and debunks the common belief in oppositional binaries of ‘simple’ versus ‘complex’ humor. The varied combinations of so-called high and low forms of humor within junior texts for young readers, who are at such a crucial stage of their reading and social development, provide a valuable commentary upon the culture and values of contemporary western society, making the book of considerable interest to scholars of both children’s literature and childhood studies. Cross explores the ways in which the changing content, forms and functions of the many varied combinations of humor in junior texts, including the Lemony Snickett series, reveal societal attitudes towards young children and childhood. The new compounds of seemingly paradoxical high and low forms of humor, in texts for developing readers from the 1960s onwards, reflect and contribute to contemporary society’s hesitant and uneven acceptance of the emergent paradigm of children’s rights, abilities, participation and empowerment. Cross identifies four types of potentially subversive/transgressive humor which have emerged since the 1960s which, coupled with the three main theories of humor – relief, superiority and incongruity theories – enables a long-overdue charting of developments in humor within junior texts. Cross also argues that the gradual increase in the compounding of the simple and the complex provide opportunities for young readers to play with ambiguous, complicated ideas, helping them embrace the complexities and contradictions of contemporary life.
Humor in Infants
by Gina C. Mireault Vasudevi ReddyThis volume explores in depth how infants--perhaps as young as three months--develop the capacity to appreciate, participate in, and create humor. Engagingly written, it synthesizes theories of humor, its subtle complexities, and why it exists despite seeming to have little survival value. Chapters trace the developing skills in the child's interactions with parents and others, the roles of verbal and nonverbal behaviors in humor, and related phenomena including absurdity, funniness, laughter, teasing, and play. These diverse perspectives offer rich insights into how the human mind learns from its environment, why humor is funny, and what humor can tell us about being human. This singular text: Reviews theories and findings on humor and its critical role in social behavior. Analyzes the challenges of researching humor in infants and young children. Differentiates among concepts and contexts of humor and playfulness. Situates humor as a social-emotional as well as cognitive experience. Details current research on humor in atypically developing children. Examines the role of culture in humor. Humor in Infants is an essential resource for researchers, clinicians, and graduate students in developmental psychology, infant mental health, social psychology, cognitive science, and pediatrics.
Humor in Middle Eastern Cinema
by Gayatri Devi Najat RahmanWhile Middle Eastern culture does not tend to be associated with laughter and levity in the global imagination, humor--often satirical--has long been a staple of mainstream Arabic film. In Humor in Middle Eastern Cinema, editors Gayatri Devi and Najat Rahman shed light on this tradition, as well as humor and laughter motivated by other intent--including parody, irony, the absurd, burlesque, and dark comedy. Contributors trace the proliferation of humor in contemporary Middle Eastern cinema in the works of individual directors and from the perspectives of genre, national cinemas, and diasporic cinema. Humor in Middle Eastern Cinema explores what humor theorists have identified as an "emancipatory," "liberatory," even "revolutionary" function to humor. Among the questions contributors ask are: How does Middle Eastern cinema and media highlight the stakes and place of humor in art and in life? What is its relation to the political? Can humor in cinematic art be emancipatory? What are its limits for its intervention or transformation? Contributors examine the region's masterful auteurs, such as Abbas Kiarostami, Youssef Chahine, and Elia Suleiman and cover a range of cinematic settings, including Egypt, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey. They also trace diasporic issues in the distinctive cinema of India and Pakistan. This insightful collection will introduce readers to a variety of contemporary Middle Eastern cinema that has attracted little critical notice. Scholars of cinema and media studies as well as Middle Eastern cultural history will appreciate this introduction to a complex and fascinating cinema.
Humor in Uniform: Funny True Stories about Life in the Military
by Editors of Reader's DigestIf laughter is the best medicine, then look no further to cure whatever ails you. The column “Offbase,” formally known as “Humor in Uniform,” has appeared in the Reader's Digest magazine for over half a century, and has published more than 3,500 jokes, quotes, and funny stories from the more than a million readers who have submitted them. This volume—from the world’s #1 source of humor—contains laugh-out-loud gems from one of Reader’s Digest’s most popular columns.<p> This side-splitting collection of humor delivers hundreds of the best jokes, anecdotes, cartoons, quotes, and stories from men and women in the armed forces or their families proving that life is often funnier than fiction.
Humor in the Caribbean Literary Canon (New Caribbean Studies)
by Sam VásquezHumor in the Caribbean Literary Canon by Sam Vásquez.
Humor of a Country Lawyer
by Sam J. ErvinOriginally published in 1984, Senator Ervin's delightful collection of stories and anecdotes winds its way from his native Morganton through Chapel Hill and Harvard, the military, the North Carolina Supreme Court, the United States Senate, and Watergate. It represents a lifetime of wit and wisdom--told in the late Senator Ervin's inimitable style.
Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And how anyone can harness it. Even you.)
by Jennifer Aaker Naomi BagdonasAnyone—even you!—can learn how to harness the power of humor in business (and life), based on the popular class at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. &“The ultimate guide to using the magical power of funny as a tool for leadership and a force for good.&”—Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of When and DriveThere exists a mistaken belief in today&’s corporate world: that we have to be serious all the time in order to be taken seriously. But the research tells a different story: that humor can be one of the most powerful tools we have for accomplishing serious things. Studies show that humor makes us appear more competent and confident, strengthens relationships, unlocks creativity, and boosts our resilience during difficult times. Plus, it fends off a permanent and unsightly frown known as &“resting boss face.&”Top executives are in on the secret: 98 percent prefer employees with a sense of humor, and 84 percent believe that these employees do better work. But even for those who intuitively understand humor&’s power, few know how to wield it with intention. As a result, humor is vastly underleveraged in most workplaces today, impacting our performance, relationships, and health.That&’s why Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas teach the popular course Humor: Serious Business at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where they help some of the world&’s most hard-driving, blazer-wearing business minds build levity into their organizations and lives. In Humor, Seriously, they draw on findings by behavioral scientists, world-class comedians, and inspiring business leaders to reveal how humor works and—more important—how you can use more of it, better.Aaker and Bagdonas unpack the theory and application of humor: what makes something funny and how to mine your life for material. They show how to use humor to make a strong first impression, deliver difficult feedback, persuade and motivate others, and foster cultures where levity and creativity can thrive—not to mention, how to keep it appropriate and recover if you cross a line.President Dwight David Eisenhower once said, &“A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.&” If Dwight David Eisenhower, the second least naturally funny president ever (after Franklin Pierce), thought humor was necessary to win wars, build highways, and warn against the military-industrial complex, then you might consider learning it too.Seriously.
Humoradas
by Carlos SilveyraLos juegos con el lenguaje, propios de la literatura oral, alcanzan su esplendor en aquellas manifestaciones vinculadas al humor. Los juegos con el lenguaje, propios de la literatura oral, alcanzan su esplendor en aquellas manifestaciones vinculadas al humor. En esta obra, Carlos Silveyra -escritor, doecente y periodista- recopila materiales del folclore infantil de Iberoamérica, algunos de los cuales se presentan por primera vez en un libro.
Humorists: From Hogarth to Noel Coward (P. S. Ser.)
by Paul JohnsonThe author of the masterly volumes Intellectuals, Creators, and Heroes returns with a collection of biographical portraits of the greatest humorists and wits in history. In Intellectuals, Paul Johnson offered a fascinating portrait of the minds that have shaped the modern world. In Creators, he examined a host of outstanding and prolific creative spirits. And in Heroes, he brought together a galaxy of commanding figures from the annals of Western history. Now Johnson turns his impressive intellect and piercing insight to the finest wits of the Western world. His is a selective survey across history and includes a diverse cast of legendary humorists who got a grand kick out of life, including Benjamin Franklin and the Marx Brothers, Charles Dickens and Damon Runyon, W. C. Fields and Samuel Johnson, William Hogarth and James Thurber. Including darkest humor, broad satire, bawdy wit, biting sarcasm, and more, this entertaining and erudite collection showcases some of our sharpest minds reflecting on the human condition's follies, pretensions, and foibles with that greatest of gifts: humor.