How to Do It Standing Up: The Friars' Club Guide to Being a Comic, a Cut-Up, a Card, a Character or a Clown

Let's get this much straight: this book will not make unfunny people funny, but it will certainly provide an entertaining read. The comics whom Dougherty interviews are all successful and, ergo, extremely amusing. The author manages to capture their anecdotes and reflections in a tight framework which could, conceivably, provide a useful blueprint for the novice comic. It's a fun, zippy read, even if you aren't looking for a future in stand-up. I am a fan of Belzer, Pat Cooper, and Susie Essman to name a few of those profiled, so it was fun to read their responses to some of Dougherty's queries about their backgrounds, their missteps, etc.

I have a friend who thinks she is funny. She isn't. I think one of the hardest things to do is teaching someone how to be funny. This book comes very close. It's more than just "timing" (that trite often used excuse some use in explaining how to amuse others) and it's more than just having that innate natural ability. Through the many interviews with those that are professionally funny, Mr. Dougherty manages to highlight and tie together the lessons that these jokemasters, prop comics and humorists relate. With their varying comedic styles, Mr. Dougherty successfully documents these truths in a way that they make sense. Comedy is hard. Teaching it is harder. Will this help my comedically-challenged friend? God...I hope so. But it's a good book and I liked it.