{"product_id":"the-elements-of-humor-isbn-9781394269198","title":"The Elements of Humor","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFind the funny in your writing, speeches, presentations, and everyday conversations\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAre you ready to elevate your writing, speeches, and conversations with unparalleled wit and comedy? Look no further than \u003ci\u003eThe Elements of Humor\u003c\/i\u003e by bestselling author and comedy writing legend, Scott Dikkers. This isn't just another book on humor—it's a transformative guide that stands head and shoulders above the rest, designed to make you the funniest version of yourself. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhile many writers treasure Strunk and White's \u003ci\u003eElements of Style\u003c\/i\u003e for its writing standards and best practices, the realm of humor writing has long awaited a credible, comprehensive guide. Scott Dikkers answers the call with a book that is both hilarious and instructive, offering clear, replicable steps to infuse your writing and speaking with unforgettable humor. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the book, you'll find: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eStep-by-step guidance for everything from sophomoric pranks to sophisticated satire as you learn the fundamentals of crafting humor that resonates\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eDiverse humor strategies for different kinds of funny, including self-deprecation, referential jokes, shock humor, hyperbole, wordplay, slapstick, and even meta-humor\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eEngaging tools, including helpful diagrams, funny illustrations, interactive exercises, and a comprehensive index of all discussed tools, skills, and methods\u003c\/li\u003e  \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Elements of Humor\u003c\/i\u003e is your key to making the people around you laugh. Scott Dikkers' expert advice is easy to follow, ensuring that anyone can become a master of humor. Perfect for enhancing presentations, content creation, or everyday conversations, this book will secure a prominent place on your library shelf. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon't miss the chance to transform your approach to humor. Whether you aim to entertain, persuade, or simply bring more joy into your life and the lives of others, \u003ci\u003eThe Elements of Humor\u003c\/i\u003e is your go-to resource. Add it to your cart now and step into a world where laughter is just a page turn away! \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePreface xiii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 1 The Unknowable 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow This Book Is Organized 7\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 8\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 8\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 2 What Is Humor? 9\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHumor in Animals 10\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHumor in Babies 10\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Universal Field Theory of Humor 11\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHumor Across Cultures 12\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Lost Skill of Humor 13\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Hope of Humor 16\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 16\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 17\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 3 Quick Start 19\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Tone of Humor 20\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCommunication Plus 21\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeing Aware 23\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThinking Differently 24\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEmbracing Failure 25\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Relaxed State 26\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 27\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 27\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 4 The Humor Mindset 29\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Clown State of Mind 30\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn Editor State of Mind 32\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eJust Kidding 33\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhen Humor Doesn’t Work 34\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 35\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 35\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 5 The Right Kind of Laughs 37\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Willingness to Try 39\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeing Self-Effacing 40\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Skill of Getting Laughs 41\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSocial Lubricant 43\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Temporary Reality 44\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRiffing 45\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeing Conscious of Your Target 45\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Rich Humor Environment 47\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 47\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 48\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 6 Being in the Moment 49\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConfidence 50\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Mood of the Humorist 52\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Mood of the Audience 53\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSocial Proof 53\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReputation 54\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eContext 55\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 56\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 56\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 7 You Have the Floor 57\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow to Communicate 59\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInternal Messages 61\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTurning Thoughts into Humorous Thoughts 62\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFree Writing 62\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFree Talking 64\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Opinion Generator 65\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 66\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 66\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 8 The Funny Filters 67\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNew Toys 69\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Funny Filters in Conversation 74\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHumor Preferences 76\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 76\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 77\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 9 Isn’t It Ironic 79\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Irony Works 80\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimple Comparisons 81\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDramatic Irony 83\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIrony Examples 84\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsing Irony 85\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 86\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 86\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 10 What a Character 87\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Character Works 88\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacters in Context 89\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacter Examples 91\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacter Archetypes 92\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIs Everyone a Character? 94\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhere Is the Surprise in Character? 96\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 97\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 97\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 11 A Point of Reference 99\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Reference Works 100\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow to Find Reference 102\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReference Examples 103\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoiding Clichés 104\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsing Reference with an Existing Message 105\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOther Types of Reference Humor 106\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 107\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 107\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 12 Shock and Outrage 109\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Shock Works 110\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Appetite for Shock 112\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eShock with Your Message 113\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eShock Humor for Kids 114\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eShock Examples 115\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 115\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 116\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 13 A Hilarious Parody 117\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Parody Works 118\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParody Examples 119\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTypes of Parody 120\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eImpressions 121\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 121\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 122\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 14 So Much Hyperbole 123\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Hyperbole Works 124\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHyperbole Examples 125\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHyperbole Pitfalls 126\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSetting Up Hyperbole 126\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 128\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 128\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 15 Playing with Words 129\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Wordplay Works 129\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWordplay Devices 130\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePopular Wordplay Devices 136\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWordplay Examples 139\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 139\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 140\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 16 Getting Carried Away 141\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Madcap Works 142\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMadcap Examples 143\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow to Use Madcap 143\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 145\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 145\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 17 A Good Analogy 147\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Analogy Works 148\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow to Use Analogy 149\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA Hidden Message 150\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnalogy Examples 151\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 153\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 154\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 18 Misplaced Focus 155\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Misplaced Focus Works 155\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow to Use Misplaced Focus 156\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMisplaced Focus Examples 157\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 159\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 159\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 19 Going Meta 161\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow Metahumor Works 162\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetahumor Examples 164\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHow to Use Metahumor 165\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetahumor Pitfalls 165\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 166\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 167\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 20 Putting It All Together 169\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCombining Filters 170\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eKeep Playing 172\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 173\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 173\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 21 The Cringe Factor 175\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCanceled 177\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinding a Mooring Mast 178\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFollowing the Rules 179\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBest Practices 180\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExercises 180\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 22 Make It Fun 181\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiscover Your Own Way 182\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGood Luck 183\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHave Fun 183\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eYou Got This 184\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHumor Glossary 185\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments 189\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAbout the Author 191\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 193\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSCOTT DIKKERS\u003c\/b\u003e is the founding editor of The Onion, the most popular satirical news outlet in the world. He’s a comedy writer, speaker, comedian, and the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of the \u003ci\u003eHow to Write Funny \u003c\/i\u003eseries, selling nearly one million copies worldwide.   \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEasy strategies and techniques to be funnier at work and in your personal life\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“In \u003ci\u003eThe Elements of Humor\u003c\/i\u003e, Scott Dikkers does indeed dissect the frog, but he does so in such a delightful way that you don’t really mind all the blood and guts. Functioning as both a Comedy 101 syllabus and an instruction manual for any extraterrestrials studying how humans process comedy, this book is required reading, especially if you’re a Scott Dikkers completist like me.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—“Weird Al” Yankovic\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDiscover the art of making people laugh with \u003ci\u003eThe Elements of Humor\u003c\/i\u003e, where bestselling author and acclaimed comedy writer Scott Dikkers serves up a masterclass in funny for anyone looking to sprinkle their writing, conversations, speeches, and presentations with a generous dose of wit and comedy. This groundbreaking book offers credible, practical advice that stands out in its field. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou’ll find easy-to-follow, replicable instructions designed to unlock your comedic potential and engage your audience like never before. From the basics of joke construction to sophisticated satire, Dikkers guides you with simple instructions, entertaining illustrations, interactive exercises, and a detailed index of indispensable tools and techniques. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether you’re aiming to craft funny content, boost your speech delivery with laughs, or just be funnier in everyday interactions, this book covers essential strategies including self-deprecation and the art of wordplay. It delves into diverse humor types—referential jokes, shock humor, hyperbole, slapstick, and even metahumor, offering insights into how and why they work.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"In \u003ci\u003eThe Elements of Humor\u003c\/i\u003e, Scott Dikkers does indeed dissect the frog, but he does so in such a delightful way that you don’t really mind all the blood and guts. Functioning as both a Comedy 101 syllabus and an instruction manual for any extraterrestrials studying how humans process comedy, this book is required reading, especially if you’re a Scott Dikkers completist like me.\"\u003cbr\u003e — \u003cb\u003e\"Weird Al” Yankovic\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\"Scott Dikkers is the funniest person in America.\"\u003cbr\u003e— \u003cb\u003eEntertainment Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Scott Dikkers sees the code in the joke matrix.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e Vulture\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wiley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47990213017829,"sku":"NP9781394269198","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781394269198.jpg?v=1761786928","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-elements-of-humor-isbn-9781394269198","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}