Reddit reviews Naked Jape: Uncovering The Hidden World Of Jokes

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0141025158/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491928978&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=the+naked+jape&dpPl=1&dpID=51Z6%2BBzbHWL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0571254810/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491941534&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=stewart+lee

Not exactly an academic work, but British comedian Jimmy Carr's "The Naked Jape" is an entertaining and interesting history of / study of jokes. From what I remember he does go through the main philosophical theories of humor quite near to the beginning in a really accessible way.

Jimmy Carr has co-written a couple of fantastic books which do exactly that. He analyses the history of jokes, where they came from, how they work structurally etc

Only Joking

The Naked Jape

Comedy is an art, and many artists develop idiosyncratic creative processes that mirror occult practices.

I suggest you study the art of comedy, and develop your own creative practice with that in mind. The Naked Jape might be a good place to start. It explores the historical, social and psychological meaning and function of jokes, and manages to be both scholarly and entertaining.

Perhaps either of these books by Jimmy Carr would interest you?

Comedian Jimmy Carr co-wrote The Naked Jape, which is a history of comedy as well as an analysis of how jokes work.

This is a good lay persons introduction to the topic.

I can give you academic source (many of which that book references) if you actually cared.