Take My Course, Please! The Philosophy of Humor
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Narrated by:
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Steven Gimbel
About this listen
In recent decades, the philosophy of humor has been recognized as a legitimate subfield of philosophy. The reason for this? Because to understand how humor works is to better understand the nature of human experience.
In these 24 insightful, informative, illuminating, and (yes) humorous lectures, explore the philosophical theories and explanations of humor, from blatantly obvious puns to complex narratives to sly twists of language. Rooted in analytic philosophy, the natural and social sciences, and the observations of thinkers ranging from Aristotle and Jonathan Swift to Sigmund Freud and Robert Latta, these lectures will leave you with a stronger appreciation of the jokes you tell and the jokes you hear.
You’ll ponder the possible universality of humor in history and culture, the debate over humor’s objectivity or subjectivity, and the complex relationship between humor and tragedy. You’ll also unpack each of the six existing theories of humor, including the superiority theory (in which to joke is to mock and put someone beneath your level) and play theory (in which humor is a species of the phenomenon of play).
You don’t need a philosophy degree to explore the philosophy of humor. All you need is an open mind. (A funny bone or two helps as well.)
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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We rely on effective research in many areas of life, and at times our lives even depend on it. But what is it that makes research effective? Any good research rests upon, above all else, method. In these 24 dynamic lectures, you’ll discover the remarkable procedures and techniques that make research such a powerful tool. This brilliantly conceived course gives you a deep, detailed, and practical guide to proper research methods - methods that are broadly applicable to all kinds of research.
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T his is the best a nd easy t follow book!
- By Arelis Rodriguez on 02-08-19
By: Amanda M. Rosen, and others
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The Dead Sea Scrolls
- By: Gary A. Rendsburg, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary A. Rendsburg
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
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Whether complete or only fragmentary, the 930 extant Dead Sea Scrolls irrevocably altered how we look at and understand the foundations of faith and religious practice. Now you can get a comprehensive introduction to this unique series of archaeological documents, and to scholars' evolving understanding of their authorship and significance, with these 24 lectures. Learn what the scrolls are, what they contain, and how the insights they offered into religious and ancient history came into focus.
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A comprehensive overview of the Qumran Scrolls
- By Jacobus on 09-25-13
By: Gary A. Rendsburg, and others
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Theories of Knowledge: How to Think About What You Know
- By: Joseph H. Shieber, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joseph H. Shieber
- Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
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Delve into the exciting field of “epistemology”, the philosophical term for our inquiry into knowledge: what it is, the ways we acquire it, and how we justify our beliefs as knowledge. Taught by acclaimed Professor Joseph H. Shieber of Lafayette College, these 24 mind-bending lectures take you from ancient philosophers to contemporary neurobiologists, and from wide-ranging social networks to the deepest recesses of your own brain.
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Should be named "Naval Gazing"
- By Frank on 03-18-19
By: Joseph H. Shieber, and others
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Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor David K. Johnson PhD University of Oklahoma
- Length: 13 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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The science fiction genre has become increasingly influential in mainstream popular culture, evolving into one of the most engaging storytelling tools we use to think about technology and consider the shape of the future. Along the way, it has also become one of the major lenses we use to explore important philosophical questions. The origins of science fiction are most often thought to trace to Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, a story born from a night of spooky tale-telling by the fireside that explores scientific, moral, and ethical questions that were of great concern in the 19th century - and that continue to resonate today.
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Weak philosophy loaded with misapplied facts and personal bias
- By KENDRA GOODMAN on 11-22-18
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The Great Questions of Philosophy and Physics
- By: Steven Gimbel, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Gimbel
- Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins
- Original Recording
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Philosophers have long puzzled over the nature of space, time, and matter. These inquiries led to the flowering of physics with the Scientific Revolution in the 17th century. Since then, the spectacular success of modern physics might appear to have made philosophy irrelevant. But new theories have created a new range of philosophical concerns: What is the shape of space? Is time travel possible? Is there a grand unified theory that unites all of physics?
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Great Overview to Philosophy of Science
- By Market Maven on 05-19-20
By: Steven Gimbel, and others
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No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life
- By: Robert C. Solomon, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert C. Solomon
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Original Recording
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What is life? What is my place in it? What choices do these questions obligate me to make? More than a half-century after it burst upon the intellectual scene - with roots that extend to the mid-19th century - Existentialism's quest to answer these most fundamental questions of individual responsibility, morality, and personal freedom, life has continued to exert a profound attraction.
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Good for even a non-existentialist
- By Gary on 07-24-15
By: Robert C. Solomon, and others
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Effective Research Methods for Any Project
- By: Amanda M. Rosen, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Amanda M. Rosen
- Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins
- Original Recording
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Performance
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Story
We rely on effective research in many areas of life, and at times our lives even depend on it. But what is it that makes research effective? Any good research rests upon, above all else, method. In these 24 dynamic lectures, you’ll discover the remarkable procedures and techniques that make research such a powerful tool. This brilliantly conceived course gives you a deep, detailed, and practical guide to proper research methods - methods that are broadly applicable to all kinds of research.
-
-
T his is the best a nd easy t follow book!
- By Arelis Rodriguez on 02-08-19
By: Amanda M. Rosen, and others
-
The Dead Sea Scrolls
- By: Gary A. Rendsburg, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Gary A. Rendsburg
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Whether complete or only fragmentary, the 930 extant Dead Sea Scrolls irrevocably altered how we look at and understand the foundations of faith and religious practice. Now you can get a comprehensive introduction to this unique series of archaeological documents, and to scholars' evolving understanding of their authorship and significance, with these 24 lectures. Learn what the scrolls are, what they contain, and how the insights they offered into religious and ancient history came into focus.
-
-
A comprehensive overview of the Qumran Scrolls
- By Jacobus on 09-25-13
By: Gary A. Rendsburg, and others
-
Theories of Knowledge: How to Think About What You Know
- By: Joseph H. Shieber, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joseph H. Shieber
- Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Delve into the exciting field of “epistemology”, the philosophical term for our inquiry into knowledge: what it is, the ways we acquire it, and how we justify our beliefs as knowledge. Taught by acclaimed Professor Joseph H. Shieber of Lafayette College, these 24 mind-bending lectures take you from ancient philosophers to contemporary neurobiologists, and from wide-ranging social networks to the deepest recesses of your own brain.
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Should be named "Naval Gazing"
- By Frank on 03-18-19
By: Joseph H. Shieber, and others
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Sci-Phi: Science Fiction as Philosophy
- By: The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor David K. Johnson PhD University of Oklahoma
- Length: 13 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
The science fiction genre has become increasingly influential in mainstream popular culture, evolving into one of the most engaging storytelling tools we use to think about technology and consider the shape of the future. Along the way, it has also become one of the major lenses we use to explore important philosophical questions. The origins of science fiction are most often thought to trace to Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, a story born from a night of spooky tale-telling by the fireside that explores scientific, moral, and ethical questions that were of great concern in the 19th century - and that continue to resonate today.
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Weak philosophy loaded with misapplied facts and personal bias
- By KENDRA GOODMAN on 11-22-18
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Writing Creative Nonfiction
- By: Tilar J J. Mazzeo, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Tilar J J. Mazzeo
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
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Bringing together the imaginative strategies of fiction storytelling and new ways of narrating true, real-life events, creative nonfiction is the fastest-growing part of the creative writing world. It's a cutting-edge genre that's reshaping how we write (and read) everything from biographies and memoirs to blogs and public speaking scripts to personal essays and magazine articles.
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Not what I expected but useful
- By Nancy on 04-14-14
By: Tilar J J. Mazzeo, and others
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The New Testament
- By: Bart D. Ehrman, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Bart D. Ehrman
- Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins
- Original Recording
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Whether taken as a book of faith or a cultural artifact, the New Testament is among the most significant writings the world has ever known, its web of meaning relied upon by virtually every major writer in the last 2,000 years. Yet the New Testament is not only one of Western civilization’s most believed books, but also one of its most widely disputed, often maligned, and least clearly understood, with a vast number of people unaware of how it was written and transmitted.
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If you want a balanced overview this is not it
- By Amazon Customer on 02-27-16
By: Bart D. Ehrman, and others
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War in the Modern World
- By: David R. Stone, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David R. Stone
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
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Great powers no longer fight great wars. But how exactly did countries like the United States go from confronting powerful adversaries in 1914 and 1939 Europe to waging lengthy counterinsurgency campaigns in places like Iraq and Afghanistan? The answer lies in the profound geopolitical and technological changes that came in between.
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General Overview of Conflicts Post World War 2
- By Jeffrey F Korpics Jr on 06-20-22
By: David R. Stone, and others
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The Power of Mind over Body
- By: Jo Marchant, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jo Marchant
- Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
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What explains the brain-body connection? How is it that something intangible like stress can really kill? How about the fact that we can and often do worry ourselves sick? And how can we take advantage of the mind’s connection to the body to reduce pain, boost physical performance, and even treat disease? Answer these questions and more in The Power of Mind over Body, a 12-lecture course that will change the way you think about physical health and the brain.
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A treasure!
- By Deivid Gomes on 10-05-24
By: Jo Marchant, and others
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How to Speak Effectively in Any Setting
- By: Molly Bishop Shadel, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Molly Bishop Shadel
- Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
- Original Recording
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The power of an effective speech is undeniable. It has the capacity to engage, inform, motivate, and create change in an audience - and in the world. In this compelling 24-lesson course, How to Speak Effectively in Any Setting, taught by Molly Bishop Shadel, Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law, learn the fine art of speaking clearly, effectively, and persuasively in contexts across the spectrum, from the board room to the bar room and everywhere in between.
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Excessive Undertones of Author’s Personal Political Views
- By Griffin on 04-10-21
By: Molly Bishop Shadel, and others
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Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills
- By: Steven Novella, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Novella
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
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No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.
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Same Material Different Title
- By rkeinc on 09-21-14
By: Steven Novella, and others
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The Science of Information: From Language to Black Holes
- By: Benjamin Schumacher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Benjamin Schumacher
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
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The Science of Information: From Language to Black Holes covers the exciting concepts, history, and applications of information theory in 24 challenging and eye-opening half-hour lectures taught by Professor Benjamin Schumacher of Kenyon College. A prominent physicist and award-winning educator at one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, Professor Schumacher is also a pioneer in the field of quantum information, which is the latest exciting development in this dynamic scientific field.
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Not appropriate for audio-only
- By Katz-Mulvey Family on 03-12-19
By: Benjamin Schumacher, and others
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Notorious London
- A City Tour
- By: Paul Deslandes, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor Paul Deslandes
- Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
- Original Recording
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In the 12 lessons of Notorious London: A City Tour, you will experience a rich sampling of some of the city’s most shocking stories and infamous personalities. Taught by Professor Paul Deslandes of the University of Vermont, Notorious London dips into various regions and eras of London’s past to give you a multifaceted look into this remarkable metropolis.
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Total Junk
- By Hoover on 08-16-21
By: Paul Deslandes, and others
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How Colors Affect You: What Science Reveals
- By: William Lidwell, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: William Lidwell
- Length: 3 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
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A must-have course for corporate leaders, design professionals, marketers, and anyone else who communicates visually, How Colors Affect You tells you everything you need to know about the science of color and its impact on all aspects of human experience. These lectures will give you a beautiful new perspective on color - one rooted in credible scientific knowledge and not popular myth.
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Annoyed
- By Steve Herrmann on 04-07-19
By: William Lidwell, and others
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The Skeptic's Guide to Alternative Medicine
- By: Steven Novella MD, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Novella MD
- Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
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Energy medicine. Acupuncture. Superfoods. Healing magnets. What does the scientific evidence really say about these and other eclectic treatments for personal wellness that fall under the popular term “alternative medicine”? How can we know if a treatment is safe and effective? How can you become your own best skeptical consumer of health news in the media? Join neurologist and science educator Dr. Steven Novella for a fascinating exploration of these and other important questions about the truths - and myths - behind alternative medicine.
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An interesting look at one mans bias
- By C. Walker on 04-13-21
By: Steven Novella MD, and others
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Law School for Everyone: Contracts
- By: David Horton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Professor David Horton
- Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins
- Original Recording
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Join Professor Horton for an accessible introduction from contract essentials, including offers, acceptances, counteroffers, and options and defenses, to contract enforcement, such as fraud, duress, and unconscionability. In lectures that demystify concepts and terms that can often seem intimidating to individuals outside of legal fields, you’ll better understand (and navigate) the contracts of everyday life.
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Clears up a lot about contracts
- By Philo on 11-22-20
By: David Horton, and others
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Scientific Secrets for a Powerful Memory
- By: Peter M. Vishton, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Peter M. Vishton
- Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
- Original Recording
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Memory is, without a doubt, the most powerful (and practical) tool of everyday life. By linking both your past and your future, memory gives you the power to plan, to reason, to perceive, and to understand. Yet while all of us have an amazing capacity for memory, there are plenty of times when it seems to fail us. Why does this happen? And how can you fix it? In Scientific Secrets for a Powerful Memory, you’ll explore the real research on how memory functions - and then apply these findings to help you make better use of the memory abilities you have.
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good, but there are better books on these topics
- By Scott H on 06-03-19
By: Peter M. Vishton, and others
What listeners say about Take My Course, Please! The Philosophy of Humor
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- Amazo
- 11-16-20
Great Course
Solid study of the philosophy of humor. The middle third is useful for the listener that wants to practice philosophy.
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- Amazon Customer
- 01-24-23
Excellent
Excellent presentation and very accessible to non specialists and n the field. Please take this course.
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- Beth Purkhiser
- 04-13-21
Enjoyable
I enjoy philosophy so I decided to see what this was about. As philosophy goes, I didn't agree completely with the author on every point. But I certainly enjoyed and appreciated the book in its entirety.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Brett Green
- 03-15-19
Funny and interesting
Okay, so the jokes that begin each lecture are pretty lame--deliberately so. But, the course is really interesting--who knew that you could get almost 12 hours of lectures on the philosophy of humor. Gimbel is an excellent lecturer and clearly has a grasp on the subject. Like all philosophy, you won't get any real answers, but you will enjoy the ride.
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9 people found this helpful
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- J. C. Ryan
- 04-13-24
I found this a bit boring,
I love The Great Course, but this was not one of their best. The delivery was a bit disjointed. The example jokes were a bit lame, and the whole philosophical approach took the fun out of humor. It seemed a bit forced.
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- P. K. Bellville
- 04-04-19
This is no joke
This book is about the philosophy of humor which means it is about philosophy. I think philosophers are a joke, but so does the author. He has no problem joking about himself. This makes the material much more assessable. But like lots of philosophy, the book gets convoluted and difficult in places. Philosophers like to argue, and if they can't find an opponent they will argue with themselves. The first joke is on you because the picture on the cover is not the author. Each lecture starts off with a joke which is not as audible as the main body of the lecture. I like this book or course and recommend it. This is as funny as philosophy gets. Now I must share a joke or two not in the book. "You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be led." ~ Stan Laurel. "Time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana." ~ Groucho Marx. I believe the author would call these script jokes as described in chapter 8. Have fun.
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12 people found this helpful
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- Buck P Creacy
- 01-30-21
Humor doesn’t have to be mean or average
Did you hear the one about the human who walked into a bar? Ridiculous! Ridiculous! Rediculous!
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1 person found this helpful
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- suddenly subtle
- 02-11-19
amazing lectures!
I now have a much better appreciation for humor from a philosophical standpoint. these lectures are timeless.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 05-06-23
a need to know exercise
Personally, I believe everyone and anyone would benefit from knowing and understanding the purpose and benefits of humor in these lessons. The necessity of humor is undervalued way too much by many.
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- AM
- 08-20-23
interesting
I can mostly say I enjoyed the book and would appreciate learning it more. there are diverse voices to keep it interesting. natural breaks. but if you can't handle a college level sociology class you might want to skip this. it's more academic than jokes. bur it does provide plenty to think on.. especially for anyone planning to study humor. lots of interesting anecdotes
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