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  • I'm a Joke and So Are You

  • Reflections on Humour and Humanity
  • By: Robin Ince
  • Narrated by: Robin Ince
  • Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (476 ratings)

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I'm a Joke and So Are You

By: Robin Ince
Narrated by: Robin Ince
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Summary

Evening Standard's the Best Comedy Books of the Year
2018 Skinny's Book of the Year, 2018

What better way to understand ourselves than through the eyes of comedians - those who professionally examine our quirks on stage daily?

In this touching and witty book, award-winning presenter and comic Robin Ince uses the life of the stand-up as a way of exploring some of the biggest questions we all face. Where does anxiety come from? How do we overcome imposter syndrome? What is the key to creativity? How can we deal with grief?

Informed by personal insights from Robin as well as interviews with some of the world's top comedians, neuroscientists and psychologists, this is a hilarious and often moving primer to the mind. But it is also a powerful call to embrace the full breadth of our inner experience - no matter how strange we worry it may be!

©2018 Robin Ince (P)2019 Audible, Ltd
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Critic reviews

"Joyfully entertaining. Full of warmth, wisdom and affectionate delight in the wonder and absurdity of being human." (Observer)

"Funny, honest and heart-warming." (Matt Haig)

What listeners say about I'm a Joke and So Are You

Average customer ratings
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Life, Death and the Universe

An entertaining exploration of what it is to be human told from a stand ups perspective. If you enjoy live comedy there will be a quote or story told by a comedian you've seen, either live or on TV. Robin's experience as a presenter comes through in his relaxed but clear speaking.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Phenominal

A great book about comedy, comedians and the human mind in general. I will cerrainly give this a 2nd listen over the coming months.

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Thought provoking and entertaining

Lots of moments of recognition. Interesting and balanced reflections on the mind. Really worth a listen.

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great listen

if you like Robin Ince and like comedic psychology then this is the book for you. will liaten to this more than once.

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1 person found this helpful

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far more than I expected

A really interesting discussion about mental health in the context of comedy. And the genius of Alan Moore too! Full of win. Robin is special, we need more like him.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Just when you think you're the only one

You think you're not well in the head, then along comes Ince and pulls you back out .

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Very relatable and honest

I Loved it all , I wasn’t really ready for it to finish , could have been another few chapters at least

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Super narrating, thoughtful, hilarious in parts

Entertaing, great if you are curious about the world of stand up comedians. Ponders the psychology and motivation of on stage entertainers, using anecdotes and Robin's conversations with his peers. Entertaining throughout and hilarious in parts - particularly the bit about sinister 1970s public information films. I would have liked more of that, but it wasn't that kind of book.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Simultaneous front row seat and backstage pass

I've a PhD in psychology. I spent years researching laughter. I much prefer this book to my thesis. If this book had existed back then, I wouldn't have bothered and I would have researched reaction times to vanishing and reappearing dots on a screen instead. Having said that, like the author, I suffer from imposter syndrome and the chances are that I would have found a book about reaction times to dots that made me question my existence.

Save yourself years of research and find your answers to such questions as: Are all comedians dealing with a trauma? Is the stand up comedian's night life glamorous, or is it spent staring at the ceiling of budget hotel rooms? How might one write and perform a bit about suicide? Why do some comedians open with 'Is there anyone here tonight from Manchester? or, 'Is that your girlfriend?', whilst others ask 'Has anyone here ever looked at the rear end of an Alsatian and thought...?

Robin Ince does an excellent job of narrating in the style of Robin Ince. He also does an excellent job of exploring many fascinating aspects of comedy and how they apply to so many aspects of human behaviour. Thank you Robin Ince for this heart warming and educational journey. I was hooked for every minute of it.

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Top notch

Like all good AB's it finished way too soon. Robin ince is a humanitarian and a very funny one.

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