# Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture--And the Magic That Makes It Work - Hardcover

by **Jesse David Fox** (Author)

**One of NPR's Best Books of 2023. A _New York Times Book Review_ Editors' Choice. Named a Most Anticipated Book by _Vulture_, _Elle_, _Chicago Tribune_, _The Millions_, and _Lit Hub._**  
**"_Comedy Book_** **changes the way we talk about an art form that is more diverse and exciting than ever before."** **\--Seth Meyers**

**"Energetic and wise . . . _Comedy Book_** **is not the definitive history of the past three-plus decades. It's Fox's history, and better for it."** **\--_The New York Times Book Review_**  
**  
From a beloved comedy critic, a wisecracking, heartfelt, and overdue chronicle of comedy's boom--and its magic.  
**  
In _Comedy Book_, Jesse David Fox--the country's most definitive voice in comedy criticism and someone who, in his own words, enjoys comedy "maybe more than anyone on this planet"--tackles everything you need to know about comedy, an art form that has been under-considered throughout its history, even as it has ascended as a cultural force. Weaving together history and analysis, Fox unravels the genre's political legacy through an ode to Jon Stewart, interrogates the divide between highbrow and lowbrow via Adam Sandler, and unpacks how marginalized comics create spaces for their communities. Along the way, Fox covers topics ranging from comedy in the age of political correctness and Will Smith's slap, to the right wing's relationship with comedy, to comedy's ability to heal in the wake of tragedy.

With memorable cameos from Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Ali Wong, Kate Berlant, and countless others, _Comedy Book_ is an eye-opening education in how to engage with our most omnipresent art form, a riotous history of American pop culture, and a love letter to laughter.

### Author Biography

**Jesse David Fox** is a senior editor at _Vulture_, where he works as the site's comedy critic and serves as the chief curator of the magazine's event series, Vulture Festival. He is also the host of the hit podcast _Good One_, where he interviews comedians about their process. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

**Number of Pages:** 368

**Dimensions:** 1.3 x 8.4 x 5.7 IN

**Publication Date:** November 07, 2023

## Details

- **Price:** 29.0 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 29.00 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture--And the Magic That Makes It Work - Hardcover

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> Updated: 2026-07-21