Wisecracks

"Humor enriches our lives, but it can also raise moral trouble. Is humor that relies on deception, maliciousness, or stereotyping always immoral? Does motive matter in determining the moral value of a joke? Why are certain topics out of bounds for humor? In Wisecracks, philosopher David Shoemaker delves into the fascinating relationship between humor and morality in our everyday lives. In this book, Shoemaker sets aside the crafted forms of humor we find in comedy specials, TV skits, and more and focuses on the informal, improvised wit that occurs in interpersonal relationships-such as teasing, mockery, and pranks-known as wisecracks. The key difference between wisecracks and jokes? Jokes are told, whereas wisecracks are made. Sometimes wisecracks involve lying, sometimes they are mean, and sometimes they play on racial or sexual stereotypes. Shoemaker untangles the intricate threads of when and why these immoral qualities are or aren't acceptable in humor. In showing how a well-developed sense of morality is central to a good sense of humor (and how to develop each), Wisecracks makes the case for how humor can heal, even when it takes a hurtful form"--

Although Hollywood did not invent the wisecrack, moviemakers, screenwriters, and actors have crafted pinpoint put-downs and split-second come-ons into an art form. This thematically arranged (and thoroughly indexed) collection of classic, comic one-liners features hundreds of celluloid icons, including Mae West, W. C. Fields, and Groucho Marx. Encompassing all film genres from frothy musicals to hard-boiled noir, run-of-DeMille epics to Looney Tunes cartoons, Wisecracks features the finest of classic film comebacks that are guaranteed to delight every film fan.

Humorous animal photos are captioned with witty one-liners that touch on virtually every aspect of our lives. The threefold purpose of this clever little gift book is to provoke a smile, remind the reader of typical human foibles, and inspire readers to recognize something of themselves in the humorous phrases. For instance, a typical photo shows a family of lazy walruses lounging at the seashore, and the accompanying caption reads: ï¿1/2Exercise is a dirty word. Every time I hear it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate.ï¿1/2 Close-up, black-and-white photos appear on every two-page spread, and each cleverly-captioned picture reminds us that animals and human beings have more in common than we sometimes like to admit.

Knock-Knock. Who's there? Aida. Aida who? Aida lot of sweets, and now I have a tummy ache. The successful Jokiest Joking Joke Book series just got shrunk! Find the cleverest, most hysterical, most laugh-out-loud knock-knock jokes in The Mini Jokiest Knock-Knock Book! All of the best jokes and goofy illustrations from the full-size book are packed into a fun, pocket-sized edition. Featuring hundreds of witty knock-knock jokes for kids, along with clever black-and-white illustrations, it’s perfect for hours of fun and games. Mini in size, but giant in fun!

It's everyone's favorite form of insult comedy (as seen on MTV!)—hundreds of crushingly funny one-liners about "yo' mama"—and all yo' other relatives—sure to shut people’s mouths or make them howl with laughter. Yo' mama is so fat, when her beeper goes off, people think she’s backing up. Yo' mama is so old that when she was young, rainbows were black and white. Yo' mama is so fat, she eats Wheat Thicks. Yo' mama is so dumb that when she saw a sign that said, "Airport Left," she turned around and went home. Yo' mama's so short you can see her feet on her driver’s license. So dumb, so fat, so ugly, and so old have never been SO FUNNY, thanks to this exhaustive and inventive assortment of laugh-out-loud one-line jokes sure to cause a sensation. Hundreds of quotable and easy-to-remember quips have been gathered here by a comedy master, and the result is a relentless collection of wholesome, all-in-good-fun nastiness for every occasion. Divided into handy categories (in case you happen to need a boatload of fat jokes, skinny jokes, or whatever) Yo' Mama Is So... is an essential addition to the humor shelf of any self-respecting smart aleck. Hey...what did you call my mama??!!

A dad was washing his car with his son until the son said, "Dad, can you please just use a sponge?" Unleash the dadliest force known to man: dad jokes. A Daily Dose of Dad Jokes is packed with 365 jokes to make you groan--and then make you smile. Master jokesters Peter L. Harmon and Taylor Calmus (a.k.a. "Dude Dad") offer enough of their top-quality, best-worst puns, quips, one-liners, and made-up stories to last you an entire year. A Daily Dose of Dad Jokes includes: So bad, they're good--Nobody ever said dad jokes were good. Seriously, they're awful. That's what makes them awesome. Keep 'em coming--Day after day, drop new witticisms on anyone within hearing range: kids, spouses, colleagues, unsuspecting neighbors... Family friendly--These dad jokes are safe for the bar or breakfast table, so you can share them all--the good, the dad, and the ugly. Why hold back? Give your family and friends their daily dose of dad jokes!

Watch the book trailer for Benjamin Kritzer ” Meet nine-year-old Benjamin Kritzer. Growing up in 1950s Los Angeles, Benjamin believes that his parents are Martians, his brother is psychotic, and that he's being followed by Bad Men. He loves movies, movie theaters (especially ones with staircases for him to roll down), eating Shrimp Cocktail shrimps out of the big barrel in the kitchen of his father's restaurant, and loves buying chocolate donuts from the Helms man. His strange grandparents live across from Ocean Park Pier, and his grandfather constantly says, "What is it, fish?" in response to whatever plate of food is put in front of him. Benjamin's father sits at home in a pajama top and nothing else, while Benjamin's mother is given to punishing Benjamin with a wooden hanger. However, Benjamin doesn't let anything get him down, and greets each day with wonder and a uniquely Benjamin sense of humor. But when he meets nine-year-old Susan Pomeroy, his entire world changes, as he and Susan embark on a relationship that is totally magical. Hilarious and touching, Benjamin Kritzer is a valentine to growing up in a more innocent time, a valentine to a child's ability to persevere, and a very unexpected love story.