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Be Funny or Die

Be Funny or Die How Comedy Works and Why It Matters

Paperback (04 Sep 2025)

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Publisher's Synopsis

Be Funny or Die is a fascinating investigation into how our species has developed and mastered the essential art form of comedy where laughter is the universal language and only the funniest survive.

Comedy is a game that all humans play. There are big social prizes if you win, but it is easy to end up with custard pie on your face and the joke is on us if we don't understand how it works.

So, what are the rules and why does comedy matter? Join professional comedy writer Joel Morris on a hilarious journey into the world of shared laughter where he reveals what comedy can teach us about ourselves. From stand-up to slapstick and sitcom to spoof, Morris examines comedic patterns, rhythms and dynamics to uncover the algorithms that secretly underpin comedy.

About the Publisher

Unbound

Unbound was founded by three writers: Dan Kieran, Justin Pollard & John Mitchinson. We think people who love books - primarily readers and writers - deserve a say in what does or doesn't get published. You may not be aware of it, but even best selling authors are beginning to have very restrictive parameters imposed on the kinds of books they get to write. Put simply, there are lots of potentially great books we're not getting the opportunity to read.

Book information

ISBN: 9781789652093
Publisher: Unbound
Imprint: Unbound
Pub date:
DEWEY: 808.8017
DEWEY edition: 23
Language: English
Number of pages: 384
Weight: -1g
Height: 198mm
Width: 129mm