For his fourteenth book, Patrick McManus lets us inside the laughs. This guide, by one of the world's best-known and respected humorists, is an insightful and entertaining book for anyone who writes humor or has ever wanted to.

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From the Introduction:

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"I was born in an old farmhouse three miles north of Sandpoint, ID on August 24, 1933. There is some question about the exact date of my birth, because my father got the attending doctor drunk, and the doctor mistakenly wrote in August 25, instead of August 24, as the date on my birth certificate. That is according to my mother, she and I being the only sober ones in the house at the time. I have been rather pleased with the mistake ever since. I first heard about it. Confusion is the natural environment of a humor writer, and it is best to get introduced to it as early as possible."