Reddit reviews Comedy Writing Secrets: The Best-Selling Book on How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny, And Get Paid For It, 2nd Edition

Not sure if you're only looking for fiction or an entertaining read, but here are some "self help" books which have blown my mind and have had a huge impact on my life for the better. I wouldn't personally call them "self help" books, but rather, books for everyone seeking to improve themselves and learn how to make a happier life for themselves and others. Please don't be put off by the nature of these "self help" books - a few years ago I was of the belief that these were only for social retards and people with psychological issues, but I've since learned that these books can pretty much improve the life of anyone in the world in some way. Some of the things I learned in these books were so profound I had to put the book down in shock just to process it all.

Vital Lies, Simple Truths by Daniel Goleman

This shows how everyone (including yourself) will always see the world subjectively according to their own personal experiences and bias - whether being conscious of it or not. It'll really show you how to read more into interpersonal relations and develop a far better insight into how people (and perhaps even you) think mentally. Of course it's human nature for people to think they're perfectly rational, but this book shows how to recognise how people will subconsciously deceive themselves into seeing the world as the mind wants to see it.

The Definitive Book of Body Language by Barbara and Allan Pease

As the title suggests, this shows you how to read into body language. This really blew my mind - with this you will learn how to read FAR more into people and more effectively project desired attitudes of your own onto others. This will teach you things that most people are totally oblivious to, and yet, by understanding body language you will be able to tell so much more about people from it - this has taught me how to find out what people are actually thinking.

How to Argue & Win Every Time by Gerry Spence

Don't be fooled by the title - this book is not so much about arguing as it is about getting what you want with people and in life. Written by one of the world's best trial lawyers, it'll teach you how to more effectively communicate and connect with others in order to get what you and others want. At first I was averse to reading anything from a lawyer, but he really surprised me on this one - it was a hugely entertaining read and his words were some of the wisest I've ever read.

Comedy Writing Secrets by Mel Helitzer

This will teach you how to be funny! Of course, this sounds stupid and one might think that this kind of thing can't be learned, but I promise you that no matter who you are, if you read this you'll become a far more interesting person.

I don't know if these were the kind of books that you were looking for, but I hope this comes to some help to at least one Redditor out there. It's just that all of these books have greatly improved my life, and I wish I could have found these earlier. Plus it'd be nice if people would give more heartfelt suggestions on where to find more books like these - hope this helps =)

Probably the best book ever written on the subject .

Short, concise chapters packed with practical information and exercises to write pretty much any style of comedy from sketches to greeting cards. Includes guides and tips on how to get paid doing each kind of comedy writing.

This book helped me dramatically:

Comedy writing secrets

Be warned, once you really get into this, it will change how you view comedy and jokes as you will be able to understand the reasons why they are funny.

The great thing about the book is there are plenty of exercises, so will give you a chance to learn your own comedy skills, rather than reading a dry book on the subject.

There are other books (eg. "The Naked Jape" by Jimmy Carr) but this one is by far the best as far as I can recommend.

I am not sure how you would get into the industry, but you could start by writing sketches. Perhaps approach some people on youtube who already have a channel and see how they came about forming together, or even send them a couple of samples of your work.

Hope that helps.

I'm 6' 0.5", so very close to you in terms of height. I also have a desk job and terrible sitting posture, but I regularly go back exercises that target my weak areas. The end result is a very good standing posture.

When I need to lower my height in order to accommodate some person or situation, what I do instead is spread my legs out a little wider than I normally would, lowering my hip some 1-3 inches. behind a fast food counter or barrier, this won't seem odd. It might be a little odd in a face-to-face though.

A person's natural body language is a reflection of their internal state. From your description, it sounds like you maybe feel a generalized dissatisfaction, ennui, or perhaps a lack of purpose, confidence, esteem, and that your body language is actually reflecting this?

I can't speak for your situation, but if this below sounds like it rings of any truth, please consider. I've gone through several phases in my life and I've seen major improvements to the self that I broadcast to the world after making a few specific changes.

1. Physical exercise, specifically strength training. Lifting weights and seeing improvements in your strength and how much you are capable of lifting greatly improves confidence and a feeling of capability. You begin to feel like you are more ready for challenges and situations than you were previously, more capable to handle situations. This, coupled with the endorphins, the release of built-up stress hormones like cortisol, and the improvements to your core and postural muscles will make you begin to stand, walk, move with greater confidence and less clumsiness. The changes to your chemistry and boosted dopamine levels will have you feeling a more steady natural sense of happiness, and smiling will be much less of an effort.
   In particular, my favorite 2 workouts for strength, posture, and serious effort is the Clean&Press and the Dumbbell Snatch which no one else at my gym does - I feel like an absolute badass when I can do 100lbs right up over my head. You should start where it's comfortable to do 5 in a set. These workouts are very challenging. Exercise is the last thing you want to do when depressed, but it's the best thing for it.
   
   
2. Judging by this and your comment history, you're a very serious person, and it seems at least a part of the way you come off is because of this demeanor. Your history of depression is likely the other part - and the two of them together sounds like it makes for a particularly dry, humorless, and withdrawn personage you put out to the world. Your other requests for advice seem to also hover around this, even as you have gigs doing public speaking, you admit that you yourself lack conversational skill and relatability. I don't want to give you the same ineffective advice to "lighten up" that you've probably been hearing for too long. Instead, I offer this. One of the things that really helped me to become a more joyous, fun, and light-hearted person was learning how to better joke about life. I was always mystified by comedy - "how do you even write jokes?" was a puzzle to me. But there's this book which really helped me to become a funnier and more light-hearted person. It may have an audio equivalent. Even if you aren't into writing, it's full of jokes, examples, and great fundamentals about just why things are funny which helps you turn average boring sentences into a setup with a small punchline... it adds up to just helping to transform me into a more enjoyable person to be, and to be with - both of which have compounded to help me in many ways. Do you know your MBTI type?
   
   I assume this is your "self-improvement advice-seeking" Reddit account based on your history. You've been dealing with a lot of things and now you're ready to really emerge from a coccoon and into a new better self, which I think is wonderful and I would celebrate you for doing so. It's a long road, friend. I'm 36 and still growing up, but I've got the majority of my personal issues and character issues handled. At least do me this favor: Self-improvement is one of the best goals anyone can have. Whatever you may feel about reddit, or about your situation in general, do not allow yourself to feel any negative feeling about your own choices to address your issues and improve and grow as a human being. If you're hiding your other self from critique by using a throwaway account, you're doing yourself a dishonesty, and you'd be better off growing up and not trying to pretend you're not broken. Be proud of your efforts to reach out, admit your problems, and ask for help. So many would rather remain broken and never grow. We're all broken in some way. Join us and lets' laugh at our broken selves together.
   
   I preferred not to answer your question about acting class, as I feel it's not actually what's going to help you. I don't want you to follow a lie. This isn't a "fake it until you make it" situation. It's a "work at it but allow myself to feel good about each positive step I take" situation. If you were going to go into any acting, I would lead you towards an Improv class, as it will help you in being dynamic and responsiveness, a "go with the flow" attitude, and comedic structure.
   
   Tony Robbins (whose audiobooks you should probably check into - he's the best motivator I've ever heard, and he gives solid plans) insists that whatever you are focusing on is what you are going to end up gravitating towards. If you are constantly surrounded by and listening to negative reminders of how we should feel inadequate or inferior or wanting, you're going to find yourself living out those exact messages. Root out and remove things in your environment which reinforce negative beliefs, and replace them with things that remind you of the good feelings you get when you take steps, no matter how small, towards your own goals of self-improvement, gaining control of your mood and outlook, and reclaiming your life bit by bit with each new day. Smile at one more person each day. Physically move for one minute longer than you did the day before. Replace one negative reminder with a positive one. Spend one minute more in sunshine than you did the previous day. Call or text one person you haven't spoken to for a long time. These things will compound, until several months from now you'll look back on this moment as when it all started.
   
   I'm not going to say "good luck". Instead, I wish you good attitude, starting now.

Like the other poster mention, something that you can transition into that's light hearted. Just look for whatever thats on or around them that catches your eye, that you want to talk about.

So lets take the physics book example. With this situation, we're just going to assumptions a about physics. Also, once you break the ice, introduce yourself, then continue talking. Assumptions are good because it removes you from constantly asking questions, like if you're in an interview mode.

"I see you're studying physics. I'm BoobieHunter by the way. Physics must be DRIVING YOU Craaaaaazy." I exaggerate the state to create tension and and be animated. She may say, "Yeah, it's horrible." or "I love it." Then you can share what you feel. "It'd drive me crazy. The only useful physics for me would be to jump off the cliff."

Don't be serious. Be over the top with your statements so she knows you're not serious.

I'll be the first to tell you that I'm not a funny guy. I'm the serious type. I'm not witty. But this book really helped me out:

http://www.amazon.com/Comedy-Writing-Secrets-Best-Selling-Edition/dp/1582973571/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1371875775&sr=8-8&keywords=comedy+book

The gist of the book is how to create tension. The reason tension is important is because it'll get the other person to smile and laugh. This here, I can do. You can do it by create tension by over exaggerating statements. Being animated, and creating fun situations with what's before you. Refer back to the verizon and CVS. It's like you're doing an improv skit on the fly. Look at what you have in the situation and make role play, improv performance out of it.

That book above changed my life. I literally couldnt sleep for 3 nights. That book rewired my brain and helped me understand humor and how to create it.

Here's the thing. You're gonna need practice. Every time you gotta go buy something at the store, make it your goal to make fun situation with what's before you at the register. Sometimes stating the obvious is funny. You see the cashier tired with eyes glazed over. "Man, you look like you're about to pass out. I know I would. You should go and pull out a blow up mattress behind there and sleep after I leave." Make stuff up. The best thing about cashiers are they're gonna be nice to you.

edit: errors

As an INTP, it's likely that if you start saying out-loud random stuff that you think then people will find it funny.

I don't consider myself funny, but people sometimes say that they consider me to be funny. It sometimes surprises me to hear that because I don't remember consciously making purposeful jokes around a lot of these people. INTP's tend to think about things in novel ways, which tends to amuse. If you want to be funny and not considered "too deep" or complicated by the troglodytes, just keep what you say to a couple of sentences or less when commenting on random things. Usually "funny" will be one phrase or sentence.

In terms of consciously attempting humor, doing so can be a fine line. When I'm trying to be funny, which is rare because I'm aware of how seldom purposeful jokes hit for most people, the frequency tends to be maybe once every 4 hours or more that I hang out with someone. The problem with attempting to be funny all of the time is that you can come off as inauthentic or "try too hard". Some people can pull off being funny more often, but not many. Inauthentic people are kind of lame to hang out with. Also, unfunny people can perceive constantly funny people to be too socially aggressive. Funny people tend to get into the habit of making fun of each other, and this can be stressful for an unfunny person to deal with. Therefore, be careful of your mode of humor around your less funny or unfunny friends as you may be putting them off without realizing it. Be selective.

In terms of getting good at being purposefully funny, as an INTP I find that mimicry is best at first. That is, you observe funny people and you break down and learn to copy their thought processes in arriving at their humor. Hanging out with funny people helps, especially because you can practice your humor with them with less worry of judgment. Unfunny people tend to have less tolerance for mediocre humor, and also tend to less-often 'get' good humor. As you get better at mimicking humor styles, you'll likely start to better develop your own individual sense of humor. I liked a previous posters suggestion of saying the opposite of what people expect. I've used that on occasion to very good effect. My favorite example of this is when Kramer orders "extra MSG" with his Chinese food meal. You can reuse stuff like that to get a laugh, as its the very rare person who will pick up on where you got it from. You aren't a professional and so you can steal select material (like one liners - whole bits are more obvious) to experience feedback and build confidence as well as a sense of what works in social situations.

This is considered to be one of the better books on learning how to think like a funny person:

http://www.amazon.com/Comedy-Writing-Secrets-Best-Selling-Edition/dp/1582973571

Remember, that being funny is not the key to making friends although it can help break the ice at times. Comedy can also work to distance you from needing to build real connections. Most people aren't funny and have healthy social lives.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1582973571

In terms of writing comedy, you cannot go past this (Sorry for Amazon Link, was the easiest way I could find it for you)

Mel Helitzer, Comedy writing secrets: exactly what you are looking for. http://www.amazon.com/Comedy-Writing-Secrets-Best-Selling-Edition/dp/1582973571

Get this book: https://www.amazon.com/Comedy-Writing-Secrets-Best-Selling-Think/dp/1582973571
Honestly, it's terrific!

I used Comedy Writing Secrets

I was very happy to find this when I first started out. I think it teaches some very good skills and techniques.

woosh.

Comedy Writing Secrets: The Best-Selling Book on How to Think Funny, Write Funny, Act Funny, And Get Paid For It

http://www.amazon.com/Comedy-Writing-Secrets-Best-Selling-Think/dp/1582973571

try this or maybe Tetris

Sure. Well, structure doesn't really matter a whole lot if you're not telling a classic build->punch joke. The situation is the buildup, so all you're really looking for is a solid punchline.

I don't think I can cram enough information into this post to help you personally, but I can recommend a few books that are incredible.

Firstly Comedy Writing Secrets. I originally bought this book to learn more about writing specific things (like sketch and screenplay), but it's packed full of comedy theory that's helped in a lot of other areas.

Secondly The Comic Toolbox. This book is actually more helpful in the creation of comedy, but there are plenty of exercises to help your brain recognize and understand comedy.

http://www.amazon.com/Comedy-Writing-Secrets-Best-Selling-Edition/dp/1582973571

try this book

When I was in high school I read in a comedy writing book that said comedians should wait until they are famous to get personal because then people will know who they are. Which I think is really dumb.

I love Bill Burrs and Louis ck old stuff, but now-a-days with 80 percent personal, their material really sticks with me and resonates on a much deeper level.



Said comedy book: http://www.amazon.com/Comedy-Writing-Secrets-Best-Selling-Edition/dp/1582973571

There are many books on comedy wrting including http://www.amazon.com/Comedy-Writing-Secrets-Best-Selling-Edition/dp/1582973571/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406897234&sr=8-1&keywords=comedy+writing and http://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Funny-Step---Step-ebook/dp/B00K9PI7AQ/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1406897250&sr=8-10&keywords=comedy+writing. They might help.

Which comedians do you personally think are funny? Which sitcoms? Which RomComs?

-Cuisine, www.daygamer.net