This volume presents seventeen of the funniest people of the 20th Century, talking about how they make people laugh.
These great comedians include Woody Allen, Milton Berle, Shelley Berman, Jack Benny, Joey Bishop, George Burns, Johnny Carson, Maurice Chevalier, Phyllis Diller, Jimmy Durante, Dick Gregory, Bob Hope, George Jessel, Jerry Lewis, Jerry Seinfeld, Danny Thomas, and Ed Wynn!
Each engaging interview was painstakingly elicited by the author, who spent years researching, collecting the material and recording these intimate one-on-one conversations.
Not merely for comedy aficionados, this is a book for ALL those who:
- Love to laugh and for those who want a good, entertaining read;
- Are curious about what makes top comedy performers tick, and the secrets behind their timeless wisdom and appeal;
- Would like insight into comedy techniques and sound philosophies that can inspire and benefit everyone in every walk of life;
- Aspire to careers in comedy or as professional speakers, as well as toastmasters, managers, business executives, clergy, civic leaders, lawyers
and all who must interact with the public.
This is a fascinating compendium of life lessons, wit, motivation and inspiration that can be used to revitalize our own lives and careers.
The reviews are in...
The Miami Herald
"This fascinating, penetrating and information-packed book constitutes an anatomy of the art of creating laughter as it has been done by the masters."
The Chicago Tribune
"Wilde has extracted the cream of comedy concepts from the top comedians and turned them into a classic collection of interviews."
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"An ambitious undertaking... the first written attempt to gain some insight into the technical aspects of humor right from the mouths of the celebrated jesters who specialize in it. A real prize."
The San Jose Mercury News
"The stars of Wilde's cast provide invaluable information on the serious business of getting laughs. This could be the bible of comedy."
The Philadelphia Daily News
"A great source for the aspiring comedian, those who speak before the public and a must for all those who love humor."
The San Francisco Examiner
"Wilde has garnered insights that will serve to guide all those who are fascinated by the mysteries and mechanics of humor."
The Hollywood Reporter
"...intelligent actors, some of them even have genius, and what they reveal is pure gold."
The Los Angeles Times
"These are some of the observations flip, serious, perceptive, obtuse you will run across in Larry Wilde's collection of disarmingly direct and candid interviews."
The Las Vegas Sun
"A most informative book... Wilde has immortalized all the top comedians."
The San Diego Times-Union
"Funny, informative, inspirational. An eye-opening look into the minds and hearts of the great laugh makers."
