British Comedy Guide

Stand up books

Hi

I have read Getting The Joke by Oliver Double, My Booky Wook and also both of Frank Skinner's books.

Does anyone reccommend any books for aspiring stand ups or biographies by comedy performers?

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin.

Quote: David Bussell @ January 12 2009, 10:12 AM GMT

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin.

Great book.

Thanks guys. It's on the way from Amazon now!

You have chosen... wisely.

I've got a couple of pop-up books if that's any help.

Quote: David Bussell @ January 12 2009, 10:12 AM GMT

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin.

Yea man that book was great!
I have had trouble finding a funny biography that can compete with Born Standing.
Can anyone recommend anything?

Quote: Curt @ January 12 2009, 2:02 PM GMT

Yea man that book was great!
I have had trouble finding a funny biography that can compete with Born Standing.

I hope he does a follow up, looking at his film work. Yes, ninety percent of his films, especially in the last twenty years, have been shit; but I still want to read it! I've got his stand up CDs too; great stuff. Though he's obviously quite visual so you're missing out on a lot!

Edited by Aaron.

Cool will do.
I would check out Tom's recommendations but I don't know who Oliver Double or Frank Skinner are.

Quote: Curt @ January 12 2009, 2:08 PM GMT

Cool will do.
I would check out Tom's recommendations but I don't know who Oliver Double or Frank Skinner are.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ January 12 2009, 2:07 PM GMT

I hope he does a follow up, looking at his film work. Yes, ninety percent of his films, especially in the last twenty years, have been shit; but I still want to read it! I've got his stand up CDs too; great stuff. Though he's obviously quite visual so you're missing out on a lot!

Yea it's true but in the 1980s he had some of my favorite comedies.
But yeah I would love a sequel. His other books are dramas I believe and of course not about him. So I don't know if I really want to read those.

Quote: Curt @ January 12 2009, 2:09 PM GMT

Yea it's true but in the 1980s he had some of my favorite comedies.

Yup; the more recent Bowfinger was great too.

Quote: Curt @ January 12 2009, 2:09 PM GMT

But yeah I would love a sequel. His other books are dramas I believe and of course not about him. So I don't know if I really want to read those.

I've read one, The Pleasure Of My Company; I'd recommend it.

Not stand up a all but Stephen Fry's Moab Is My Washpot made me laugh several times. Then again I'm biased because I love the man.

The Oliver Double book is a guide to the workings of comedy, what makes us laugh etc.

The Russell Brand book is great if your a fan of Russell but you'd probably hate it if you aren't.

Frank Skinner's latest book gives a really good insight into the mind of a comic and I would definitely reccommend that.

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