Drawn from 30 years' experience as a popular professional speaker, author of 13 books, columnist and advertising copywriter, Dan Kennedy looks at humor as an instrument of persuasion and influence. Anyone--amateur--or pro--who must stand and deliver speeches, seminars, group sales presentations, serve as toastmaster, or write advertisements, sales letters or newsletters will find fodder here, to be faster on their feet, more confident and adept at being funny with a purpose. The book contains thoughtful insight but also simple shortcuts. Reading it, you'll get a better appreciation for the humor around you and humor professionals who entertain you, and you'll exit stage left with humor strategies and tricks you can use. Even if you're not all that funny.

A successful entrepreneur, speaker, and marketing copywriter shows you how to wield the persuasive, profit-making power of humor. People buy more and buy more happily when in good humor. Understanding humor and being able to effectively use it for your sales and persuasion purposes is a powerful advantage. Drawn from thirty years' experience as a popular professional speaker, author of thirteen books, columnist and advertising copywriter, Dan Kennedy looks at humor as an instrument of influence. Anyone who must speak or write to a public audience will find fodder here. Whether you deliver speeches, seminars, or group sales presentations; serve as toastmaster at events; or write advertisements, sales letters, or newsletters, this book offers thoughtful insight, practical strategies, and simple shortcuts to help you be confident and adept at being funny with a purpose. (Even if you're not all that funny.) Note: this book contains adult material and may not be suitable for minors. Or for the easily offended.

When life is funny, make some jokes about it. Billy Plimpton has a big dream: to become a famous comedian when he grows up. He already knows a lot of jokes, but thinks he has one big problem standing in his way: his stutter. At first, Billy thinks the best way to deal with this is to . . . never say a word. That way, the kids in his new school won’t hear him stammer. But soon he finds out this is NOT the best way to deal with things. (For one thing, it’s very hard to tell a joke without getting a word out.) As Billy makes his way toward the spotlight, a lot of funny things (and some less funny things) happen to him. In the end, the whole school will know -- If you think you can hold Billy Plimpton back, be warned: The joke will soon be on you!

This mom and dad are a little odd--and a lot of fun! Mom likes spots, and Dad likes stripes. But their son's favorite thing couldn't be more of a surprise! "It's stripes vs. dots in this eye-boggling feast of extroverted colors and shapes".--PUBLISHERS WEEKLY.

My mum likes spots and my dad loves stripes. And me? See if you can guess what I like!

Covers the development of musicals, from the earliest European operetta styles of France and Germany to the modern musical of the United States and Britain.

For five decades as a writer, performer, and keen observer of the social scene, Steve Allen has looked into every aspect of who's funny, what's funny and why. Now he shares his discoveries in a book designed to help every reader develop his or her unique talent for funniness.