Let There Be Laughter

A Treasury of Great Jewish Humor and What It All Means

By: Michael Krasny

Narrated by: Michael Krasny

Michael Krasny has been telling Jewish jokes since his bar mitzvah, and it's been said that he knows more of them than anyone on the planet. He certainly states his case in this wise, enlightening, and hilarious book that not only collects the best of Jewish humor passed down from generation to generation but explains the cultural expressions and anxieties behind the laughs.

With his background as a scholar and public-radio host, Krasny delves deeply into the themes, topics, and form of Jewish humor: chauvinism undercut by irony and self-mockery; the fear of losing cultural identity through assimilation; the importance of vocal inflection in joke telling; and calls to communal memory, including the use of Yiddish. Borrowing from traditional humor and such Jewish comedy legends as Jackie Mason, Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers, Larry David, Sarah Silverman, Jerry Seinfeld, and Amy Schumer, Let There Be Laughter is an absolute pleasure for the chosen and goyim alike.

©2016 Michael Krasny (P)2016 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Culturally Interesting

My father's family was Jewish so I always enjoy learning about the faith and culture and this book explained a lot about my own father's sense of humor.

There are many funny jokes and stories, though few were new to me. All together, this book would have been better if it had been read by a professional reader, or even better still, by a Jewish comedian. The reading was dry and the timing off on the jokes.

Could’ve been ...

...really laugh-out loud funny. But it’s never funny to ***explain*** why something ‘s funny. So overall you have to settle on getting a little education and a little humor. Overall definitely worth the read though.

Suggestions

When he tells or reads, he needs to pause or do something to indicate going to the next joke. It runs together and can at times be confusing. Also it might help to have his voice rise or fall with more expression. Great content of jokes and very interesting analysis kept me listening.

It's great and I don't like joke books Highly recommend for you. Just hilarious

It's great and I don't like joke books Highly recommend for you. Just hilarious like none o

Love it

I've listened to the book at least 10 times so far great jokes and awesome delivery