It’s not often I consider buying a book based on a book review in the newspaper. For one thing, I hardly ever read such reviews (there are few if any in our local newspaper, which I just resubscribed to this weekend in exchange for a gift card to the supermarket I was shopping in at the time). And the last time I read a book after reading a positive review, I was not exactly impressed.
Since Philip Roth is considered “the most compelling of living authors” by New York magazine, I thought I ought to read something by him, and Everyman had the advantage of being short. I don’t regret having read it, as I try to read more widely than just what I know I already like – but I’m not running out to get any more Philip Roth books from the library.
But a book about the history and philosophy of joke-telling – that is exactly the sort of book I am drawn to. I’ve never heard of Jim Holt before, but if Stop Me If You’ve Heard This is as enjoyable to read as Joseph Epstein’s review of it is, I expect to like it very much. Just to be sure, I read the excerpt provided online as well. Yes, I already think it’s worth buying.
According to Epstein, “Mr. Holt’s taste in jokes runs to the subtle, not the raucous,” which suits me just fine. My husband enjoys a very wide range of humor, from Gary Larson’s The Far Side to Mel Brooks movies and a great deal more. We both enjoy Calvin and Hobbes comics, and books by Adrian Plass, but in general I seem to have trouble appreciating the humor that makes people guffaw loudly.
So a book combining humor with history and philosophy is much more to my taste. One reason I enjoyed Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose so much was its discussion of philosophy and theology and the unusual question of whether Christ ever laughed, all in the context of a medieval murder mystery. One of the few books on humor I’ve purchased previously is Joseph Telushkin’s Jewish Humor: What the Best Jewish Jokes Say About the Jews - which is as much about the Jews as about their jokes.
I’m not sure what it says about me that even my humorous reading has to have a serious side. But personally, I think the best humor always does.
July 18, 2008 at 7:29 am |
That kind of thing appeals to me, too – something that can entertain but make you think as well.
Speaking of books, I just started reading The Shack. From what I’ve read/heard about it, it is either sacrilege or a wonderful book that will deepen one’s relationship with God. So I decided to find out for myself. (Picked it up at Costco for $8 & change.)
July 18, 2008 at 7:50 pm |
One of the best humor writers I know is Bil Bryson. He’s probably a “radical agnostic” in belief, but he mixes in a good combination of serious and useful information with quite a bit of irreverent and gently sarcastic humor. So if you like my blog a bit, he’s much better.
Maybe start with this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notes_from_a_Small_Island
July 22, 2008 at 12:40 pm |
Amen to what modestypress says. I have been a Bill Bryson fan for years, and just read another of his books last week.
July 22, 2008 at 2:18 pm |
I’ve seen some Bill Bryson books that sounded good, they just hadn’t made it from my mental list of books to read into a written list that actually goes with me to the library. But I’ve checked the card catalog (what an outdated term – it’s all online) and they do have the book modestypress recommended, so I’ll have to check it out.