# Best Books on Joking Mechanics and Comedy Writing

This list contains highly-regarded books for learning the structure, mechanics, and craft of comedy writing.

## 1. How to Write Funny: Your Serious, Step-By-Step Blueprint for Creating Incredibly, Irresistibly, Successfully Hilarious Writing
* **Author:** Scott Dikkers
* **Description:** A practical guide that breaks down comedy into eleven "funny filters" such as wordplay, hyperbole, and parody.
* **Where to find it:**
    * [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Funny-Step-Step/dp/1499196121)
    * [Barnes & Noble](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-write-funny-scott-dikkers/1119494762)
    * [ThriftBooks](https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/how-to-write-funny-your-serious-step-by-step-blueprint-for-creating-incredibly-irresistibly-successfully-hilarious-writing_scott-dikkers/9874397/)

## 2. The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not
* **Author:** John Vorhaus
* **Description:** A seminal work on building comedic premises and tools for television and film writing.
* **Where to find it:**
    * [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Comic-Toolbox-Funny-Even-Youre/dp/1879505215)
    * [Google Books](https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Comic_Toolbox.html?id=dY4HAAAACAAJ)

## 3. How to Kill in Comedy: Find Your Comedic Character, 20 Best Joke Formulas, and Slay the Audience
* **Author:** Steve North
* **Description:** Focuses on creating a unique comedic character and provides 20 joke-writing formulas.
* **Where to find it:**
    * [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/How-Kill-Comedy-Character-formulas/dp/0983126127)
    * [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53133184-how-to-kill-in-comedy)
    * [Audible](https://www.audible.com/pd/How-to-Kill-in-Comedy-Audiobook/B0F23V8SY9)

## 4. The Serious Guide to Joke Writing: How To Say Something Funny
* **Author:** Judy Kelley
* **Description:** Offers step-by-step techniques for crafting punchlines and joke structures.
* **Where to find it:**
    * [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Serious-Guide-Joke-Writing-Something-ebook/dp/B07JLRZ3MD)
    * [Rethink Press](https://rethinkpress.com/products/9781907498374-the-serious-guide-to-joke-writing)
    * [Barnes & Noble](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/serious-guide-to-joke-writing-sally-holloway/1116524297)

## 5. The Comedy Bible / The New Comedy Bible
* **Author:** Eddie Izzard
* **Description:** A comprehensive guide covering everything from stand-up to sitcom scripting.
* **Where to find it:**
    * [Wikipedia (Info)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Izzard)

## 6. Impro: Improvisation and the Theater
* **Author:** Keith Johnstone
* **Description:** Essential reading for understanding spontaneous comedic structures and improvisational theory.
* **Where to find it:**
    * [Amazon (Search)](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Impro+Keith+Johnstone)