The Humor Code: A Global Search for What Makes Things Funny

Despite its title, this book isn't just a laughing matter. While funny as heck in many parts, it's a well-written book that delves deeply into fascinating areas of psychology, sociology, cultural study and business. It plays out a bit like a mystery as we embark on a worldwide trek with the authors, alternating between incredibly moving interpersonal stories and surprise twists and turns as they chase and uncover the sources of myths, stereotypes and other preconceived notions. Peter McGraw and Joel Warner make an entertaining and interesting dynamic duo of humor investigation. This is a thought-provoking yet easy read. I particularly enjoyed the overseas segments, especially the emotional and movie Patch Adams adventure in the Amazon and the surprisingly bizarre Japan visit. The in-depth and behind-the-scenes view into the professional stand-up comic and improv world fascinated me and has given me a greater appreciation and understanding of my favorite comics, and has armed me with a desire to see more live comedy. I previously followed Joel's journalistic work and one can see his finely honed ability to tell a gripping story that kept me turning the pages with enjoyment. No boring segments in this book, no wasted words.

Humor is a funny thing, but what makes things funny? Why does humor exist? What purpose does it serve? I find the concept of humor extremely interesting because it is so bewildering. It just does not make any sense. There does not seem to be any intrinsic value to humor. As far as we know, animals do not seem to laugh. Some say humor is a coping mechanism. Others say it’s a bonding technique. These make some sense, but to me they are not satisfying answers. So I picked up the book The Humor Code hoping to learn more about what makes things funny. Professor Peter McGraw and journalist Joel Warner travel the globe looking for answers. Their adventures take them to Denver, Montreal, Denmark, Palestine and other locations around the world in order to understand the nuances of humor. I found the book to be pleasant, but it definitely did not meet my expectations. I was looking for a more in depth look into the constructs of humor, not an Amazing Race type trek throughout the continents. McGraw and Warner do quickly settle on a theory of humor called the “Benign Violation” theory. It is an interesting theory and I wish they spent more time testing the theory and finding challengers. Perhaps, trying to understand humor is a lot like explaining a joke; it kind of ruins it.

Although this book covers a lot of ground in a breezy, readable way, it left me wanting more substance. The authors explore the concept of humor across a wide variety of cultures, traveling to many different places and delving into such diverse topics as humor as a coping mechanism in extreme poverty, humor as a method of political dissent, and humor that doesn't translate easily. I applaud them for covering such a wide terrain, but I wish they had delved a little deeper into some of the topics. The tone also feels a bit forced at times. Would I recommend the book to a friend? Sure, if you want something easy and interesting for a plane ride (that's where I read it). But at the end, I found myself wondering what the point of it was.

I absolutely loved this book. I had to read it for a college course, and I'm glad that I got the chance to read it. The research that these two men conducted throughout the book really got me thinking in a way I never had before. I always thought that funny was the same everywhere you went (which it isn't, but you have to read it to find out why). McGraw has this theory called the benign violation that basically says how when you put something socially acceptable together with something that is a violation to people, you make funny. The first time I thought about it, it made little sense to me, but after reading this book I can see his theory everywhere I turn. I never realized how diverse humor could be, even in our own country. People have different ways of portraying humor and because of that, they way different people put themselves out in the world, trying to be comical, can either be a hit or a miss, depending on the audience and their personal take on what they think is funny. Overall, this book changed the way I think about funny and why people think things are funny in the first place. I would definitely recommend getting this book, even if it's just for a easy read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will never think of humor the same way again.

...oder genauer gesagt: EINE Regel? Dies herauszufinden ist das Ziel des Psychologen McGraw und des Journalisten Warner. Sie starten mit einer Theorie über Humor (Kurz gesagt: Humor ist die Schnittstelle zwischen "harmlos" und "Regelverletzung") und reisen dann um die Welt, um Komiker, Comiczeichner und Satiriker auszufragen, aber auch um den Fragen nachzugehen, ob Humor gesund macht (im Amazonas helfen sie als Clowns bei der Arbeit mit Armen) und was an den Mohammed-Karikaturen denn jetzt eigentlich den Effekt hatte, den sie hatten. Das Buch ist gefällig geschrieben und natürlich (?) sehr interessant, in dem Sinne, das man recht viele interessante Details und Leute kennenlernt. Aber gerade am Anfang ist es auch sehr unbefriedigend: Hier reden die beiden Autoren zwar mit sehr vielen Leuten, aber es kommt eigentlich zu keinem echten Ergebnis. Hinzu kommen zwei etwas merkwürdige Kapitel: Erst fahren sie tagelang in Tanzania herum, auf der Suche nach einer mysteriösen Lachkrankheit, um dann zu schließen, dass ihnen die Lösung dafür (Massenhysterie) bereits vor dem Besuch von einem amerikanischen Spezialisten mitgeteilt wurde. Und in Japan kommen sie zu keinem Ergebnis, weil ihnen offenbar erst dort auffällt, dass man Humor nicht versteht, wenn man die Sprache nicht kennt und keinen Übersetzer dabei hat. Doch danach geht es aufwärts: Die Kapitel sind konkreten Fragen gewidmet und sie besuchen die richtigen Leute, so dass es auch tatsächlich ein Ergebnis gibt. Das errinert fast an die hervorragenden Bücher von Mary Roach. Aus diesem Grund kann ich das Bich guten Gewissens allen empfehlen, die gerne über die merkwprdigen Verhaltensweisen des Menschen aufgeklärt werden (Siehe auch z.B. Wiseman)...

The title of this book should be: what makes things funny? - as it doesn't deliver on the promise of a humour code. It talks about and tries to put into practice the benign violation theory. Or as it could be called - jokes as harmless infringements. I found the final chapter most interesting while the road trip parts have too much detail and are quite boring. If you are really into how humour works, this book is worth reading. It's funny that Joel Warner writes the book but Peter McGraw gets his first name first in the author credits. This book doesn't crack the humour code, although it does point out some of the elements that makes things funny.

Witty. Funny. Highly informative. I wish the authors would consider a sequel.

If you're into comedy and the mechanisms of laughter, this is the new go-to book, IMHO. Insightful and funny, really a great book.

Got bored and didnt finish reading