The Best of the Harvard Lampoon: 140 Years of American Humor Hardcover – November 15, 2016
by Harvard Lampoon (Author)
A collection of the best of The Harvard Lampoon—the spawning ground for Hollywood’s elite comedy writers and New Yorker humorists—revealing the hidden gems from their 140-year history.
Since its inception in 1876, The Harvard Lampoon has become a farm system for Hollywood’s best and most revered comedy writers. Lampoon alumni can be found behind the scenes of sitcoms and late-night shows, including Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, The Office, 30 Rock, The Mindy Project, and many others. The Best of the Harvard Lampoon is the first anthology of The Lampoon’s extensive archives, featuring luminaries who have gone on to shape the comedy and literary landscape along with some of the best cartoons, illustrations, and satirical advertisements from over the years.
Contributors include B.J. Novak, Henry Beard, Andy Borowitz, George Plimpton, Conan O’Brien, John Updike, Patricia Marx, and many others, with an introduction by New York Times bestselling author Simon Rich.
About the Author
The Harvard Lampoon debuted in February 1876 and is the world’s longest continually published humor magazine. Written by seven undergraduates and modeled on Punch, the British humor magazine, the debut issue took the Harvard campus by storm.
United States President Ulysses S. Grant was advised not to read the magazine, as he would be too much “in stitches” to run the government. Harvard Lampoon alumni include comedians Conan O’Brien, Andy Borowitz, Greg Daniels, Jim Downey, Al Jean, and B.J. Novak. Lampoon alumni write and have written for Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, Futurama, Late Night with David Letterman, Seinfeld, The League, NewsRadio, The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, and dozens of other shows. The Lampoon has also graduated many noted authors such as George Plimpton and John Updike.
Product Details
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Touchstone (November 15, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1501109855
ISBN-13: 978-1501109850
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
A rare bird
By Bookwormon December 24, 2016
Format: Hardcover|Verified Purchase
Ever wonder if John Updike wrote comedy in college? Me neither. This anthology is full of surprises, revelations, and even some funny stuff. The historical perspective is quite interesting — the reader gains insight into the evolution of written humor over the last 140 years, through some of the most important events in history. From a sociological/anthropological perspective it is fascinating to see how culture shapes even our sense of what is funny.
Simon Rich’s introduction is hilarious. Overall, a rare combination of educational and entertaining. Loved it!