Given the amount of fiction I read this was a welcome change. I found it to be an interesting and thought provoking read. But having said that I remain a little puzzled as to the ultimate aim of the book. Purporting to be a comedian’s take on what makes us human is only party true. It is one man who happens to be a comedian, and his take on what makes us human. Because I’m not sure that Mr. Ince’s pondering would have differed much if he had pursued a different profession. I believe he was posing the idea that what happens to a person could possibly influence their career choice and in his case he became a comedian because of a past event. It is possible of course but the book doesn’t prove or disprove the theory.
I think that really the book is examining and philosophising about human nature from the perspective of a man involved in comedy. The danger that the book seems to have fallen into is that it suggests comedy is the field folk go into if they have emotional and mental difficulties or issues and they wish to deal with them. That is a gross simplification I know and I partly apologise but I fear that it is misleading in term of the whole book. One important line I feel is quote worthy - '.....comedy was the only way they could make sense of their lives.' Possibly sums the book up.
This is book about people and the fact that all of us have quirks and idiosyncrasies. obsessions and problems. And it is one man’s immensely readable thoughts and theories about people and their lives and, of course, his own life. He is a warm and witty man. There are some entertaining anecdotes and some comedians interviewed which are fascinating. It’s not some new age self help book. But it is a very much a psychology book.
I think that really the book is examining and philosophising about human nature from the perspective of a man involved in comedy. The danger that the book seems to have fallen into is that it suggests comedy is the field folk go into if they have emotional and mental difficulties or issues and they wish to deal with them. That is a gross simplification I know and I partly apologise but I fear that it is misleading in term of the whole book. One important line I feel is quote worthy - '.....comedy was the only way they could make sense of their lives.' Possibly sums the book up.
This is book about people and the fact that all of us have quirks and idiosyncrasies. obsessions and problems. And it is one man’s immensely readable thoughts and theories about people and their lives and, of course, his own life. He is a warm and witty man. There are some entertaining anecdotes and some comedians interviewed which are fascinating. It’s not some new age self help book. But it is a very much a psychology book.