A Collection of Humorous Writing by the Top 50 American Writers

David M. Carroll: I would put the number closer to 10. A few of these authors are actually some of my favorites. Dave Barry would be at the top of the list. Some of the earlier compositions might have been funny back in the day but don't get a chuckle now. I found this book to be quite a disappointment.

United States on Dec 06, 2021

Brian Jeffrey: As the editor points out, and a few reviewers note, humor is subjective and what one person finds funny another person says, "What!!"
It quickly became apparent that my idea of humor didn't match that of the editor and maybe 3 of the 50 stories were somewhat funny for me.
Had I looked at the editor's website before making the purchase I would have realized that we weren't a humor match and I would have some some money and a lot of reading time.
Your mileage may vary.

Canada on Nov 06, 2020

William Jordan: It's inevitable that an anthology of the 50 funniest American writers will be a mixed pleasure. Some of the pieces are riotously funny (John Hughes Vacation 58 for example). Others are mildly amusing (Garrison Keillor The Tip Top Club). Some are far out (The Onion, Clinton deploys vowels to Bosnia). Some really seem entirely serious (excerpt from Lenny Bruce, for example). Some seem distinctly of their time and place (parodies of Hemingway or Chandler). Still, overall, certainly enough - and enough variety - to hold the attention. Well worth the price of admission!

United Kingdom on Jul 17, 2012

Amazon Customer: I must admit this book is not what I expected. I am halfway through it and I have yet to issue so much as a chuckle. It is really not very funny at all, and the material selected by Mr. Borowitz so far leaves one wondering when the humor will start. I do hope the remaining half will be better than the first. But I was well pleased with the shipping and delivery date. In short, Amazon did their job very well, the only thing lacking is content.

United States on Nov 18, 2011

Michelle Dash: I'm generally fairly scattershot when it comes to the manner in which I approach a typical anthology: I'll thumb through, choose selections at reckless random, set it aside for months, perhaps pick it up later, and likely completely forget about the 44% I never managed to get to. Dust ultimately collects, as dust is wont to do.

I've long been deeply amused by damn near EVERYTHING that Mr. Borowitz has to say (whether it be in The New Yorker, via Twitter, or on his masterfully produced satirical website (BorowitzReport.com)), and I was intrigued by the notion of perusing the work of writers that HE considers to rank among the country's most amusing, past and present. I decided, what the hell, worst-case scenario? One more anthology, one more potential dust-collector...

This book will NOT be receiving the 56%-read solution, just to be cast aside like so much stultifying yard-sale fodder. As a matter of fact, my original copy is currently in the hands of a third grateful reader. And I'm maintaining a bit of a wait-list.

THIS book is one of the most well-considered, thoughtfully-ordered, skillfully-constructed collections I can recall chancing into. In addition,...

United States on Nov 05, 2011

Patricia: I pre-ordered a copy of this book for one reason only: I wanted to support Andy Borowitz who has provided me with so many laughs on so many days that I thought the least I could do in return is to buy his book. I simply don't know how Andy's daily emails can be funny every damn day. He never misses.

So on the book. This is a delightful collection of all sorts of writers and many are topical, modern, diverse and also laugh out loud funny. Not "funny" the way something you read in English Lit in 8th grade was supposed be be funny but wasn't. Really laugh out loud at a funny movie funny. Who couldn't laugh at Wanda Sykes, for example?

The other thing I like about this book is that each author gets about five or six pages so you don't have to commit to reading an hour at a time. You can pick up the book as the coffee is brewing and get a good laugh. Plus, you can just skip around and read the selections in any order.

I will add (seriously) that this book would be a perfect holiday present for all those hard-to-buy for people on your shopping list, including sullen teenagers, old grand-dads, faux intellectuals, real intellectuals -- anyone. Buy a dozen or so and...

United States on Oct 17, 2011

Miss M: I'm a fan of humor anthologies and have a collection that includes books by E.B. White, Gene Shalit, and many more. This is the best because it was assembled by one of the funniest guys around, Andy Borowitz, the first winner of the National Press Club's award for comedy and the guy behind the Borowitz Report, the most hilarious tweet feed there is. I grabbed my copy as soon as it arrived yesterday and read for an hour, enjoying old favorites and finding new favorites. Borowitz begins with Twain but instead of the usual jumping frog or whitewashed fence he makes an unexpected but absolutely perfect and timely choice with Twain's declaration of his candidacy for President. I was delighted to see George Ade, Charles Portis, Frank Sullivan, and Peter DeVries included -- for different reasons, all four have been neglected and all four merit thoughtful reconsideration. Their selections are also superbly chosen. I was even more delighted to find that Orchid Thief author Susan Orlean could be so funny, to see many of my current favorites like Sloane Crosley and David Rakoff and Wanda Sykes, and to be introduced to authors who are new to me like Jenny Allen and Henry Beard and Larry...

United States on Oct 14, 2011