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25 reviews for:
I'm a Joke and So Are You: Reflections on Humour and Humanity
Stewart Lee, Robin Ince
3.85 AVERAGE
25 reviews for:
I'm a Joke and So Are You: Reflections on Humour and Humanity
Stewart Lee, Robin Ince
3.85 AVERAGE
The book is not funny enough, not scientific enough, not journalistic enough... but an ok mix of all three. While it offers a warm perspective and strong concept it doesn’t quite do its job.
The science needed more science, the comedy more humour, the meeting with other conedians more interviews.
The last part of the book is much more interesting and comes with valuable insight and deep consideration.
The science needed more science, the comedy more humour, the meeting with other conedians more interviews.
The last part of the book is much more interesting and comes with valuable insight and deep consideration.
medium-paced
A deep exploration about the human condition disguised as a book about stand up. Very honest and very moving. Thank you.
I enjoyed this. I'm a fan of Robin's wittering anyway, but this gave me a dose of 'it's not just me, then' in relation to what goes on in the human mind.
This book took me quite a few attempts to get into it and actually stick with it. It just wasn't as absorbing as I expected or hoped, which was really disappointing. In the end I listened to the audiobook at a pretty high speed and enjoyed it a little bit more that way.
There were some interesting sections and I liked finding out about the science and psychology behind people's need for performing and hearing comedy. I also enjoyed the parts involving some of my other favourite comedians or scientists. There were some relatable anecdotes too. Overall though, I found it a bit of a mish mash of chapters that didn't necessarily have any kind of flow through the book. I'm not sure what I was supposed to get out of it either, as a conclusion.
Of course it was also full of Robin Ince's trademark ramblings and humour which made it a little easier to read.
There were some interesting sections and I liked finding out about the science and psychology behind people's need for performing and hearing comedy. I also enjoyed the parts involving some of my other favourite comedians or scientists. There were some relatable anecdotes too. Overall though, I found it a bit of a mish mash of chapters that didn't necessarily have any kind of flow through the book. I'm not sure what I was supposed to get out of it either, as a conclusion.
Of course it was also full of Robin Ince's trademark ramblings and humour which made it a little easier to read.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
If I was a comedy nerd this would be a full 5 stars but as this is a recommendations app I've rated it based on how much it reached into my mind and heart. The Robin's turn of phrase is wonderful. The psychological and science bits as well as the real life stories were really interesting. The creative mind and the comedy geek stuff I can only really look at as an outsider. I like the idea of there not being creative and non-creative people but my creativity doesn't come with such restless insistence.
I thoroughly enjoyed 'I'm a Joke and so are You' due to its truthfulness and the pure sincerity it was written with. I felt intrigued by the ideas and thought processes of Robin Ince, and I thought that the imagery and anecdotes used were relatable and accessible to any reader. There was an extreme lack of pomposity, even when the points or ideas written about were scientific or analytical; this is something that writers of this genre often struggle with. There was a beautiful balance between the writer's own experiences, discussions with other comedians and factual knowledge, which led to a truly interesting read. There was a clear message behind the book, which I found important to today's society, and relevant to many of our lives. The references to comedians who have recently passed were stunningly touching.
This was one of the books I received in my surprise box of 30 books from the Wigtown Book Festival last summer and definitely not - despite being, oooooh, a signed copy - a book I would have picked out for myself.
It's a weird one - Ince spends the whole thing musing in a sort of gentle, rambling way about life, the universe and everything AKA what makes us tick AKA anxiety, childhood trauma, imposter syndrome, grief, you know, all that famously winning comedic material. It doesn't tell us anything groundbreaking but is a surprisingly cosy read (the bits with Ricky Gervais notwithstanding).
It's a weird one - Ince spends the whole thing musing in a sort of gentle, rambling way about life, the universe and everything AKA what makes us tick AKA anxiety, childhood trauma, imposter syndrome, grief, you know, all that famously winning comedic material. It doesn't tell us anything groundbreaking but is a surprisingly cosy read (the bits with Ricky Gervais notwithstanding).
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad