Taking us from fart jokes on Sumerian clay tablets all the way up to Twitter gags and Facebook memes, Jeopardy! champion Ken Jennings tells the story of comedy from its ancient roots to its unassailable grip on the modern world. Consider: presidential candidates now have to prepare "zingers" for debates. Headlines and church marquees, once fairly staid affairs, must now be full of clever puns and winks. Even airline safety pamphlets have been replaced by hilarious videos with big budgets and dance routines. Jennings explores this brave new comedic world and what it means—or doesn't—to be funny in it now.

"Our comedy-first culture is resulting in too much of a good thing…. [The book] is smartly structured, soundly argued, and yes—pretty darn funny."—Booklist (starred review)