Humor Books

I am a big matt groening fan so I bought this. One out of every 10 was funny and the others...

This book is really funny,and yet so realistic (apart from the talking bunnies). You can definitly see some simalarities between the charactors in the Simpsons and the characters in the book. I plan on buying all 5 books

I must say, Big Book of Hell is 10 times better than Huge Book of Hell. Funnier, less preachy, bigger, and just plain better. It's honest, and extremely observant of the little stupid things we do every day. Matt's detailed descriptions of school and work are so true, I wish I would have written them. Bongo's anti-school agenda is so funny and true. The strips with the eyes and Bongo strapped in a chair are among my favorites. Another thing Big Book has that Huge Book doesn't, is that it is TOUCHING! Witness the 8 Steps of Handling a Divorce (or something to that nature). I almost cried when I read it. In some ways, its more personal than Huge Book, other times, more universal. Which is why Greoning's work (and the Simpsons) are so brilliant: touching, personal yet universal, bitter yet hilarious, observant without being fake. Big Book also has TREMENDOUS re-read value. I highly suggest anyone looking for a laugh or some delicious insight to purchase Big Book of Hell.

It's one thing to say that life is hell and sit back and sulk. It's another thing to turn it into hysterical, scathing humor. Matt Groening's "... is Hell" series is by far the darkest and funniest exploration into our modern life. If Mark Twain were a cartoonist, this is what he would have produced. Compare these cartoons to those animated yellow people (Bart, Homer, et al.), and The Simpsons are no longer a dysfunctional family.

I've been a huge fan of the Simpsons since they first aired, and recently I decided to check out Matt Groening's other works. I bought this book used and it was worth every penny. The comics here are unlike any other. I particularly enjoy them because they are totally irreverent, yet honest about the state of American society today. Many of the 'School is Hell' series appear in this collection. They are my favorites--they get me through long nights of studying. It makes me wish there was a 'Life in Hell' TV series to go along with the Simpsons.

I was looking for a collection of Bill Mauldin cartoons for my father. This book is full of 'em.

My father (who was part of the occupation of Japan in 1946) had a copy of this book. I grew up knowing Willie and Joe. My nephew likes to look at my copy, and I explain the war as best a civilian might, using the cartoons. He's been looking at them since he was five, and when I got a new copy of the book I let him have my old one for himself at the age of 8 -- I find nothing in there inappropriate for a child. I believe it to be a good introduction to that which it is my personal duty to never ever let the next generation forget, what the Greatest Generation did for us all. And yes it's really hysterically funny, even for a civilian, even for a small boy in the 21st century.

My nephew is too young to know that every year on November 11 in the great Peanuts comic strip, Snoopy the WWI flying ace would prepare to go over to Bill Mauldin's house to quaff a few root beers and swap stories. The inside of this book reprints one of these cartoons, in which Woodstock and one of his little birdie friends are marking the day by portraying -- Willie and Joe!

Bill Mauldin is almost certainly the single best-known cartoonist of World War II. His cartoons, many of which I never saw before they were reproduced in this book, are REAL, they are not the result of some funny gag of some sergeant hanging out 50 miles behind the lines... they are the product of a "dogface," a fellow infantryman who saw things which rang true. Mauldin's Willie and Joe characters look like they've been through Hell because that's the way infantry guys looked after weeks on the line. And the humor Mauldin uses is the same kind of fatalistic humor that one sees in this situation.

This collection also has the added benefit of allowing the reader to see Mauldin's development as a cartoonist, from the ones he did while in stateside training to the postwar cartoons which showed the bewilderment of newly-released Soldiers back to civilian life. The large format of the book does the cartoons justice, a definite improvement over the smaller versions of the same work.

This work is all cartoons from the beginning of Army life to getting out. There are captions attached and this helps those who are not familiar with military life.
I think those who appreciate Mauldins books ae those who have been there done that.
The touch I liked very much was that Mauldin treated the German Soldier much the same was as the American Soldier. There is a saying a Soldier is a Soldier is a Soldier, we just wear different uniforms, and have to do what we are told.
What adds to Mauldins cartoons and captions is that he is talking for the civilian soldier, the guy who does not want to be here, but by miracle of miracles he is here and even stays.
Light hearted peek into the life of the Army Infantryman.
Want to know what life in the Army was like for your Father, Grandfather, a must book..

Bill Mauldin was a favorite of my father who served in WWII. I served 1968 to 1972. However, more recent veterans have not heard of Bill Mauldin. I showed this to some of them. They enjoyed it as much as I. The military has not changed in the sixty years since the cartoons were drawn.

If you quickly glance through it, it might not seem like a great book. But it's really good, it just uses simple drawings to show idea's. If you want to start a comic strip artist this is a must to add to your collection. If you want to pretty pictures by a comic book, this is to learn to create them.

Before I finished my third book I decided it needed cartoons to visually explain some ideas (a picture is worth 1000 words) and provide humor to a tough subject. I started checking with hiring a professional artist (or student artist) to do the work. It quickly became clear the task would be time consuming, expensive and I may not get what I wanted in the end.

First, it would be difficult to find someone who would be able to take what was in my mind and transfer it to a cartoon

Second, it became painfully clear it would be expensive (even with a student artist). I wanted around twenty five cartoons drawn.

Third, some individuals wanted to discuss contracts and usage.

My best option was to learn how to draw cartoons myself. I figured it would be less expensive (only the cost of books and art supplies), and frustrating and I would get exactly what was in my brain. It would take some time to become proficient, but it sounded like a fun project. I was fortunately right.

The Cartoonist's Workbook by and a couple other books helped me learn how to draw cartoons good enough to put in my latest book.

Robin Hall's common sense approach to teaching drawing made the challenge fun. There were also a tremendous number of different sketches in the book that helped jump start ideas for potential cartoons.

Robin Hall provides many excellent sections that helps teach drawing techniques. Some the sections that I found especially helpful were: The Expressions section, The Useful Outdoor References and The Gag Situations.

After finishing my sketches, I used Adobe Elements software to polish up the work. I was very pleased with the final cartoons that went into my book...and there have been many positive comments about the cartoons from people who have the book.

Overall, this is a great resource for learning to draw cartoons!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Drawing on the Funny Side of the Brain : How to Come Up With Jokes for Cartoons and Comic Strips

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Cartooning but Were Afraid to Draw (Christopher Hart Titles)

This book is very helpful. I've had some experience before with attempting cartooning and I've been drawing seriously for years. However, this book teaches a different method for cartooning and drawing that is different than what I've been using before and reading it inspires me again to do more cartooning.

The way he writes is just encouraging, friendly and it is quick to get to the point. He accompanies his writing with illustrations that look comfortable and accomplished. The author is obviously a capable cartoonist and it allows you to feel like you are being taught well. He assumes you know nothing and I'm certain that his methods would seem comfortable to even the most inexperienced artists.

The gag writing section of the book is interesting too but it isn't as good as the rest of his book. This is understandable given the nature of writing humor. Even though it doesn't do as well as the drawing sections, it still is the best guide to writing humor I've ever seen. Like the rest of the book, it inspires me to write humor of my own. It's shortcoming though is that unlike the cartooning section, the examples don't seem accomplished. Though the methods he teaches seem promising with practice, his own stuff is not very funny.

Regardless of the flaws in the humor-writing sections, the whole of the book is just so inviting that it makes the book a great purchase. It's a useful and fun book and I'd have gladly paid twice what I did for it.

the cartoonist's workbook is a great book that just about goes over every thing needed to make a cartoon. of course since the book is only around a 100 pages it doesnt go into great detail on every issue. its a great recourse as it has around 20 pages of just gag ideas, useful poses etc...

Anyways the book teaches you a very 90's looking type of cartoon which i happen to like. I would recommend this book for anyone trying to draw some cartoons. This book assumes you know almost nothing and cant draw so its for absolute begginers. i highly recommend this book.

I've worked with fine art for years, and I was looking for a way to loosen up a little, do some simple sketching. Among art books there isn't much to choose from if you want to draw loose! I came across this book at a bookstore and I just liked the drawing style. I brought it home and within hours the looser style I wanted to achieve had emerged. If it's helped me this much, I can imagine what it would do for someone who actually wants to draw cartoons! It's a great reference for the simple basics of drawing everything from people to common objects. A great book!!!!

We recieved a copy of this book as a present when our baby was born. Honestly, the art is not my thing at all. Its that weird collage style. So, if it was up to me, I would give this book 3 stars but my daughter absolutely loves it. She's 8 months old and always gets so excited when we read it that its on heavy rotation. I like how it teaches about animal sounds but with a fun rythem. Eventualy, you just don't notice the art that much. In the end, I am forced to give it 5 stars.

This book has very simple text, but my 16 mo old twins love the rhythm. They both dance around as I read it aloud and have me read it over and over again. Like other reviewers, my son laughs and dances over to look at the picture when we get to the "Bee Buzz Honey" page. We used to get this book from the library but decided we needed a copy in our personal home library.

Cow Moo Me contains images of animals paired with text using a rhyming pattern to display the name of each animal and the sound the animal makes. For example, an image of a bumblebee flying around flowers is paired with the text, "bee buzz honey, bee buzz zoom, bee buzz busy, bee buzz bloom." This book would be appropriate for infants ages newborn to 24 months. The rhythmic patterns, bright colors, and familiar animals make this book ideal for this age group. In addition, the rounded edges are very appropriate for young infants who like to explore books themselves. I would recommend using this book in the library as part of a lapsit. The artwork is made of bright, colorful collages. The images are cute and silly, fitting well with the simple text.

My 2 year old LOVES this book. He can practically recite it back to me! He laughes when we get to the Bee Buzz Honey part! Although most of the reviews are for babies much younger, my son continues to enjoy this book, in fact, even more now!

My daughter is 7 months old and for the last month this book has been among her favorite playthings. She laughs and waves her arms when I read it to her and her eyes light up just looking at the pictures. I turn the page to "Bee Buzz Honey" and her eyes find the bee and she smiles. Not great literature, no. But a book a baby could love.

Very fun with great words and rhymes. My son can't get enough of this book. We read it everyday before bedtime. Highly recommend!

After checking this book out from the library multiple times, I figured my 5 and 3 year olds needed a copy for themselves. This is a lyrical, funny and memorable story that should please everyone!

My daughter loves the rhythmical bounce to this book! It's like reading a song! Very Fun!

My girlfriend and her son absolutly love it. It must be read with a little bit of a rhyme

I bought this for my grandson's birthday and haven't given it to him yet. I am sure he will love it. Its a very cute book.

With each new Bone book I get, I never get disappointed. Each book is more and more engrossing. While the black and white issues are the originals, the colors add more to the overall story than I would have guessed. The art is great, the epic story is amazing and the colors just help bring everything together even more.

I gotta say that once you get into the Bone series, it's hard to stop reading it, and I really enjoyed this volume, which is mostly about the antics and schemes of Phoney Bone as he tries to swindle people out of their money, hurting others along the way as things backfire terribly. Definitely great stuff!

The Bone series really hits its stride in this volume. Continuing the excellence from previous volumes, the story deepens and builds into a truly great fantasy tale, on par with classics of the prose fantasy world. I'd give this volume more than 5 stars if I could. Highly recommended.

Side note: - While I understand the all ages appeal of the Bone series; I find it odd that these books get shelved (and buried from a wider range of readers) in the young adult sections of the major chain stores. It would be better to shelve them with Graphic Novels or SciFi/Fantasy.

Jeff Smith's BONE: THE DRAGONSLAYER provides another fine graphic novel in Book 4 of the Bone series. Here the forces of evil are growing - and the roots may be within the Bone family itself. Full-color graphic novel pages entice kids to read the Bone adventures, and even newcomers will find it easy to jump in.

Action, suspense, mystery, with a winning plot and great characters, this beautifully mastered chapter in the bone series is top notch! I can't wait for the next book in the (assumed nine-part) series to come out!

I have been a faithful FoxTrot reader for years. Roger, Andy and their kids Peter, Paige and Jason are always good for a reality check with a large dose of laughter. I've got two girls and let me tell you, I see a lot of my kids in Paige with, I believe, even a healthy dose of Jason thrown in. And they have Peter's bottomless stomach. Of course, they're faithful FoxTrot readers too. I used to read the strip to them, explain what was going on, but now they get it just fine and we three all laugh together. Then my girls try and explain the strip to their dad, who pretends he doesn't get it.

The FoxTrot folks are a great family, one we sort of got used to checking up on every day, so we took the news that Mr. Amend was going to cease daily distribution of his wonderfully funny people and turn his strip to Sunday only, with a bit of sadness. Still, we have these terrific FoxTrot books to keep us going with our FoxTrot fix. Mr. Amend is to be commended for his great gift to our culture and his great gift to so many lives. I truly believe a laugh a day, helps keep the blues away and the FoxTrot gang are always good for a laugh. Heck there are a lot of laughs in the FoxTrot books. I know, I have them all and I am, along with my girls and my hubby dear, eagerly awaiting the next one.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention, we don't have an iguana, but my girls do have a pet gecko and, you guessed it, his name is Quincy.

I've been a Foxtrot reader for a long time and personally I think there is something suspiciously wrong with people who don't find Bill Amend's characters funny as all get out. If you want a good laugh, check out Bill in your local newspaper, or better yet, get one of the Foxtrot books. They are all great, really, they are.

Like many of Mr. Amend's fans I'm a bit disappointed he's switching his strip to Sunday-only, but fortunately I can still read him daily in the Foxtrot books. Get them one and all and you can keep right on a laughing.

FoxTrot follows a family of five through their bizzare everyday lives. Roger, the father, is a mid-level office worker, and his wife Andy is a successful columnist. Peter, the oldest child, is a high school senoir with a passion for sports but without the skill. Paige, the middle child, enjoys shopping but hates schoolwork. Jason, the youngest child, enjoys schoolwork and harrassing his sister.

Bill Amend had been writing Foxtrot for about four years when he drew the comic strips in this collection, so at this point he had refined his humor without needing to reuse any older storylines. Most of the comic strips play up the sibling rivalry between Peter, Paige, and Jason very well. The book also features a number of comic strips that feature Peter's girlfriend Denise, who is not featured as much in more recent strips, and it also includes a large number of references to pop culture. The longer storylines in the book include two vacations by the Fox family: one to an amusement park, and one to the hot desert in the summer. Amend also drew several new panels for the center of the book that show Paige's dreams about her idealized French lover Pierre. The book still occasionally tocuhes on serious subjects, too, such as when Peter experiments with chewing tobacco.

Overall, this is classical Foxtrot humor. Foxtrot fans should definitely buy this book, but even casual readers of Foxtrot comic strips will find something to enjoy in this book.

If there's one cartoon comic book you should get, it's "Enormously Foxtrot." Entertaining, witty, and comical, it's the perfect reading during your spare time. Jason continues to play tricks on his sister, Paige continues to physically torment Jason, and Peter is just a regular teenager who has an appetite of a vacuum cleaner. Meanwhile, the parents try to deal with them and their own lives and still be a happy family. This gigantic collection is enjoyable and would help you pass those long hours at home.

Yet another amazing foxtrot anthology, The best word to describe it is just plain funny, this is a good long book, so the humor goes on and on.

It's a great book. I love the way you get to know more about Frazz. I also love the relationships Frazz has with some of the students and teachers.

I really would rate this a 7! It's also really good to see children put in a good light. All parents and teachers should read this and the second one.

The first of the author's Frazz series, hilarious and real life from the first strip to the last. All will enjoy reading this and reliving our youth, a keen insight into the minds of the youth and all others. Read it, you will put this in your library and refer to it often.

My first encounter with Mr Mallet's work, and definitely a case of love at first sight. I'm astonished at how deeply Mr Mallet can make his characters come alive, while still being at least as funny and deep as any other of my favourite comics.

If you are not familiar with Frazz (or Mr. Frazier) the Janitor at Bryson Elementary School, let me take a moment to introduce you. Frazz is a triathlete, a song writer, a poet, a literary buff and, surprisingly, a janitor at an elementary school. He is into healthy living, good food, good fun, and loves a good battle ball/eraser fight. He is the shining star of Bryson and is loved by all the kids there. He is a better teacher than some of the other paid staff at the school.

I sometimes think that Frazz is a grown up Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbs)

I really love Frazz. This collection allowed me to catch up on a lot of the old Frazz cartoons. Mr. Mallett's drawing style is very consistent from beginning to end. His humour is always gentle, loving caring, thoughtful and morally sound. The lessons Frazz provides to the kids of Bryson elementary school are deep, valuable, honest, socially responsible, healthy and usually indirect and subtle. If I take the time, I even learn new words from Mr. Mallett.

My teens also love Frazz. Then again, they like Garfield a lot too, so there is no accounting for taste.

My family and I will be reading and re-reading this collection of Frazz cartoons over and over again in the coming weeks.

Gotta love Frazz!

They say that laughing actually has medicinal value. If that's the case, then this book is truly theraputic. if you are looking for an interesting title that will make you laugh out loud - this is the book to take to the beach this summer!

Rob Ballister's book is a collection of anecdotes from his personal life which reveals his optimistic outlook on the world. Through his unique ability to laugh about his own circumstances and mistakes while taking everything the world throws his way, he shows others the futility of always taking yourself seriously. I found myself laughing out loud in the library, under a tree, on a bench along the sidewalk, and in my room as I made my way through his tales of life, the navy, girlfriends, religion, and illness. I would recommend this book to anyone needing just a quick laugh or a step back from a stressful life in order to refocus on the small things.

Rob Ballister is a talented humorist in the tradition of Dave Barry. "God Does Have a Sense of Humor" is reminiscent of Barry's "Complete Guide to Guys." First, Ballister effectively disarms the reader, coaxing laughter out of his battle with testicular cancer. Then he covers a myriad important subjects such as coaching little league, nickel beer night, and lingerie shopping. Each anecdotal tale, whether trying to understand the fairer sex or deconstructing family politics, is comprised of one part insight and two parts comedy. This is a must read for bachelors and cancer survivors.

Easily digestible, God Does Have a Sense of Humor is written as a collection of short stories, rather than a typical novel. It's perfect for sitting down for five minutes and reading one hilarious story by itself, and just as good if you want to spend a rainy Saturday reading the whole thing. The reader will find it hard not to identify with some of the tragically embarassing experiences of the author, while other vignettes are so energetically fanciful and full of hyperbole that one cannot help but pause to laugh. I highly recommend this book!

A day without laughter is like a day without sunshine. All your days can be sunny if you'll just open Rob's book.

Wandering through the table of contents was my first indication that I was in for a chuckle. His candid sharing of awkard moments was enough to put me rolling on the floor with laughter. There is definitely something for everyone to laugh about in his book.

If you're looking for a fun book to read, God Does Have A Sense Of Humor hits the spot!

This is an amazing book. For golfers with even the slightest of philosophical bents, this is a must read. If your bookshelves contain books like Michael Murphy's Golf in the Kingdom, Timothy Gallwey's The Inner Game of Golf, Fred Shoemaker's Extraordinary Golf, and Joseph Parent's Zen Golf, then Golf's Three Noble Truths: The Fine Art of Playing Awake should be on your bookshelf as well.

I'm finding so much in it that I've almost discovered before... it reads, in that sense, a little like memory. We golfers need more books like this! How can it be that with instruction book after instruction book after instruction book, we don't seem to be getting better at this game? How can it be that the average handicap stays about the same, regardless of technological improvements, countless rounds, golf pro lessons, and bookshelves full of "tips" books dissecting the swing? What is missing?

Ragonnet has an intriguing answer. Drawing on Eastern philosophy, primarily Buddhism, Ragonnet suggests that we golfers are simply not awake to what is really happening right now, right here, before our very eyes. Rather, we are trapped in the "monkey mind." Endless internal chatter about previous shots, what we might shoot today, technical swing thoughts, doubts, fears, anxiety, etc., etc., ad infinitum. No wonder we're not improving!

Ragonnet offers wise words on how we can stop the chatter and return to the moment. He encourages us to appreciate the wonder of everyday existence... the wind through the trees, the shadows on the greens, the wondrous flight of the ball, the butterfly that lands on your golf shoe. But be not deceived... this is no hokey New Agey gimmick schtick. James Ragonnet is heavy duty scholar, thinker, and engaging writer. I dare say he is a real life Shivas Irons. This is a book that can improve not only your golf game... but your life as well.

James Ragonnet's book "Golf's Three Noble Truths-The Fine Art of Playing Awake, enables me to be myself, stay in the moment and to enjoy golf and all the wonderful things that if offers. Additionally, approaching golf by calmly abiding with the The Three Noble Truths and their related benefits, your game does improve. I'm going a step further and applying this philosphy in other parts of my life. I do believe I might just get to be a better person. Both golf and my life have moved up a few pegs. My thanks to Mr Ragonnet for this wonderful book. A job well done.

Walter Kelley

Dr. James Ragonnet's book, Golf's Three Noble Truths: The Fine Art of Playing Awake, is a requirement for every golfer, every level and--in all fairness--for non-golfers as well. The concepts and exercises described within can be applied to any sport or life experience. The principles of "the fine art of playing awake" demonstrate the spiritual/physical link between golf technique and Eastern inspired practices of awareness, balance, and unity (i.e. a connection with and respect for the world surrounding and interacitng with one's golf game). James Ragonnet illustrates numerous examples of how to develop awareness and become more centered--everything from standing meditations to visualizing with the ready made environment, such as trees on the golf course. This book is broken up into concise, clear cut chapters that are chock full of tips on improving one's golf experience and overall life! The sketch of a typical foursome, each representing differing degrees of consciousness and competence are absolutely hilarious. The minute you figure out which character most closely resembles yourself, you will want to implement every suggestion in this book. One of the over-riding themes in Golf's Three Noble Truths, is the importance of dropping one's ego and, instead, embrace the knowledge of one's shortcomings. Ragonnet describes this formula as "Doubt + Self-Awareness = Growth". Ragonnet speaks as a golf buddy who happens to be enlightened and interested in sharing his discoveries. Listen to him and apply some of the prescribed exercises and practices. You will grow and expand in your golf skills, increase your golf enjoyment, and markedly improve your overall life. ~Kellie Young

Jim Ragonnet has penned a primer on living - and being - a meaningful life. Its origin was the author's sense that his life was missing important things - bliss, contentment, inner satisfaction, peace of mind. The grace and beauty of a single butterfly laid bare for him (and through him for all of us) the universal truths that can awaken us all - whether on the golf course or in the board room.

This book enabled me to understand that I've learned some of these truths the hard way over my 32-year business career. ("When you're willing to face the truth, you'll find out who you really are.") Only when I got laid off from my job did it force me to find a far better one. Only when the wheels came off did I find my true perspective and inner strength. I no longer view the "missed" and "made" deals of my vocational life as separate episodes; I realize they form the continuous thread of my collective experience. My good days have taught me things; but my bad days have taught me far more. I now know that an "acceptable score" may be the ultimate illusion in a person's business life. Our ultimate reconciliation with ourselves and with each other doesn't involve scorecards. It consists of truth, gratitude, and forgiveness, in that order.

Ragonnet inspires us to decide for ourselves what golf means - what life means. He enables us to realize that we don't really need a great drive down the fairway. What we really need is the mindfulness and composure to hit a great drive - and to realize that it's not about what we get - it's about who we become.

This book is not just for golfers. Even though I am an avid golfer, I found myself relating pieces of the book to my own personal life and career. As a former athletic director and coach, I found the chapter on The Need to Win to be quite interesting and true. The entire book from cover to cover will keep you wanting to read more each time. Jim has a great ability to relate Eastern thinking to golf and life. To me, a must read.