Make ‘em laugh, make ‘em laugh: an incomplete history and an inadequate analysis of humour. Rick Coy. 2011.

This is a marvellously readable and entertaining analysis of what makes people laugh, and why. It looks at humour from every possible angle: between the sexes, across cultures, between generations, giving lavish examples to illustrate the point raised. Not only analysing humour and comedy, it places humour in its social context and outlines how it has developed over time.

What are the seven categories of dirty jokes? Who are the greats Jewish comedians and comic writers? What is different about Aussie humour? These and many more questions are answered in this amusing and comprehensive study of humour.