Mike Sacks is the author of three previous books including And Here’s the Kicker: Conversations with 21 Top Humor Writers on Their Craft. Currently on the editorial staff of Vanity Fair, he has also written for the New Yorker, the New York Times, Esquire, GQ, McSweeney’s, Vice, and Salon.
“A series of rich, intimate conversations about the ins and outs of
turning funny ideas into real-world art….[Sacks] dives deep with
everyone from Saturday Night Live lifer James Downey
to Cheers creator Glen Charles to Mel Brooks, and every
interview is refreshingly candid. Sacks asks the right questions…to
inspire lively conversations….As a sort of expert witness to
comedy’s history, he’s reverent, though his subjects are also
clearly chosen because they understand the absurdity of their own
vocation. He pokes and prods just enough to reveal some guts, and
most of the time they’re just as fascinating as what’s on the
surface.”
—A.V. Club, The Onion
“A fascinating look into the ways stand-up comedians, directors,
and even short stories authors write funny….An absolute must.”
—Flavorwire
“A greater look into the craft and business of comedy writing than
you can find anywhere else….A comedy nerd bible.”
—Splitsider
“Filled with intelligent conversations… Even if you're not
interested in a comedy writing career, at least you'll get great
suggestions for your Netflix queue.”
—NPR, 2014’s “Great Reads”
“[A] pleasingly thick work, born to be well thumbed.”
—Los Angeles Times
“[Mike Sacks’] conversations with humorists poke at some
fundamental concepts of comedy without chloroforming any frogs.
More revealingly, the book examines what kind of person comes to
make a living putting funny words on paper.”
—Wall Street Journal
“Short chapters offering ‘Ultraspecific Comedic Knowledge’…should
be of particular interest to anyone thinking about pursuing a
career in comedy. The longer interviews should be of interest to
pretty much anybody.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“The true usefulness of Poking a Dead Frog to an aspiring
comedy writer is in its clear-eyed picture of the gritty inner
workings of the comedy industry….Reading about how a joke goes from
the mind of a writer to an episode of Community is like
watching a magician reveal his secrets: Sure, it dispels some of
the magic, but it inspires new reverence for the real skill that
went into producing the effect.”
—Slate
“An effort to understand what elicits the guffaw [and] an
investigation of the comedic mind and how it works…. Poking a Dead
Frog also surprises as a how-to-get-in-the-business kind of
book, a thread that holds valid entertainment value….Amid these
[stories of] wild successes, we get insights into what is
funny, why it is funny, and just how hard it is
to write the perfect joke….If you have members of your family who
dream of being a comedy writer, give them this book.”
—Paste
“Unusually insightful…Sacks teases deep wisdom from comedy
titans.”
—Departures
“[These] intimate discussions of comedy in all its forms are
engaging, and Sacks's obvious passion is contagious. Whether
writers themselves or just fans of funny, humor-loving readers will
relish Poking a Dead Frog.”
—ShelfAwareness
“Fascinating interviews with some comedic heavy hitters…full of
great moments that are funny, thought provoking, and poignant. If a
casual humor enthusiast can appreciate the work this much, the book
is going to be snapped up by comedy writers and aficionados.”
—Library Journal, starred review
“[An] excellent book…[Sacks] once again displays his ability to get
fascinating and honest interviews from comic luminaries.”
—Publishers Weekly
“If you’re a fan of funny — and who isn’t? — you’re sure to find
something of interest in Sacks’ follow-up to And Here’s the
Kicker.”
—New York Post
“No one generates more interesting, revealing, entertaining
interviews than Mike Sacks. His love and knowledge of comedy are
apparent, and, as a result, the fascinating and sometimes
tight-lipped comedy greats open up to him in ways they rarely
do. Poking a Dead Frog is a classic.”
—Bob Odenkirk, co-creator of Mr. Show and former
writer, Saturday Night Live
“This book is what I really look forward to in a book about humor:
rich with words and humor, and funny stories with words. Thank you
for your time.”
—Will Ferrell
“These interviews go to dark depths and offer useful, applicable
insight into how excellent comedy is written. If you read it,
you're going to be better at writing comedy and may even wind up in
a position where you can take jobs away from the younger
interviewees. I specify the younger interview subjects because some
of the older ones will die soon.”
—Rob Delaney
“I wish I'd had a book like this when I was trying to break in.
Also, a book on personal hygiene.”
—Jack Handey, author of Deep Thoughts and The Stench
of Honolulu
“There are few better interviewers than Mike Sacks. Poking a
Dead Frog is a must-read for any comedy nerd or fan of pop
culture history.”
—Dana Brown, Vanity Fair
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