Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
Kindle Price: $8.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Wayne Federman
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The History of Stand-Up : From Mark Twain to Dave Chappelle Kindle Edition

by Wayne Federman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 294 ratings
See all formats and editions
Today’s top stand-up comedians sell out arenas, generate millions of dollars, tour the world, and help shape our social discourse. So, how did this all happen? The History of Stand-Up chronicles the evolution of this American art form – from its earliest pre-vaudeville practitioners like Artemus Ward and Mark Twain to present-day comedians of HBO and Netflix. Drawing on his acclaimed History of Stand-up podcast and popular university lectures, veteran comedian and adjunct USC professor Wayne Federman guides us on this fascinating journey.

The story has a connective tissue – humans standing on stage, alone, trying to get laughs. That experience connects all stand-ups through time, whether it's at the Palace, the Copacabana, the Apollo, Mister Kelly’s, the hungry i, Grossinger's, the Comedy Cellar, the Improv, the Comedy Store, Madison Square Garden, UCB, or at an open mic in a backyard.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    180 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    March 15, 2021
  5. File size
    890 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The History of Stand-Up

"Packs so much in such a slim book. Smart and deeply researched. Should be required reading for comedy types. Really terrific." - Jason Zinoman, comedy critic The New York Times

"Wayne Federman knows more about the history of stand-up than anyone I've ever known." - Jesse David Fox, senior editor Vulture

"If you love comedy - buy The History of Stand-Up." - Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, NETFLIX

"If you're interested in stand-up history, Wayne Federman is your man. And this is the book. Immaculately researched." - Judd Apatow

"The History of Stand-Up is a fantastic book. A great read. " - Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC's Tonight Show

"Highly recommended. It's fascinating from beginning to end." - Dana Gould

"Wayne Federman's History of Stand-Up is the ideal primer for anyone who wishes to understand how the art form came to be." - Kliph Nesteroff, author of The Comedians

"Extremely extensive and interesting history of stand-up comedy that trances the evolution of this art form since pre-vaudeville times." -NPR National Public Radio

"The History of Stand-Up is an absolute treasure. A very special book that's a must buy for stand-up comedy fans." - John Fugelsang - Sirius Radio

"For stand-up comedians, wanna be stand-up comedians and fans of stand-up comedy. This book is an entertaining and educational tour of the art form from Minstrel Shows to Zoom. Highly recommend. " - James P. Connolly, The Bob and Tom Show

"This book has it all. Absolutely riveting chronicle of stand-up's history. It's incredible how he tied the whole story together." - Patton Oswalt ​​​​​​

"Wayne Federman makes connections between the way things were in comedy and how they came to be the way they are today." - Forbes Magazine

"A fascinating, and important, chronicle of stand-up comedy's evolution. It masterfully connects the dots from the vaudeville era to the Netflix generation." - Journey Gunderson, Executive Director, The National Comedy Center

"Drawing on his immense knowledge of the subject, Federman traces the evolution of the art form, from its pioneering pre-vaudeville practitioners to contemporary comedians. Absorbing and highly detailed read." - 48 Hills

"A wonderful history of stand-up comedians, from Artemus Ward to Richard Pryor." - KCRW 89.9

"An instant classic." - Jeff Umbro, CEO Podglomerate

About the Author

Wayne Federman is an Emmy-nominated stand-up, actor, author, producer, and professor. He has appeared in numerous television shows and films including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Silicon Valley, Step Brothers, Knocked Up, The X-Files, and Legally Blonde. Federman co-produced the Emmy-winning documentary The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling and is currently co-producing a George Carlin documentary for HBO. He is a tenured, adjunct professor of stand-up comedy history and performance at USC.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08W5GVQQR
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independent Artists Media; 1st edition (March 15, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 15, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 890 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 180 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 294 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Wayne Federman

Wayne Federman

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

WAYNE FEDERMAN is an Emmy-winning stand-up comedian, actor, author, professor, and podcaster. Wayne has been a touring stand-up comedian for over 35 years. He has appeared multiple times on NBC's Tonight Show and has his own special on Comedy Central. Wayne produced the HBO documentaries The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling and George Carlin's American Dream. He also co-hosts the acclaimed podcast: The History of Stand-Up.

Wayne has acted in numerous films and TV shows including Legally Blonde, Knocked Up, Step Brothers, The 40‐Year‐Old Virgin, 50 First Dates, Funny People, Curb Your Enthusiasm, What We Do In The Shadows, Silicon Valley, The Larry Sanders Show, Community, and The X-Files. Wayne co-wrote the sports bestseller MARAVICH The Authorized biography of Pistol Pete. ("The definitive biography of Pete Maravich" ESPN). And in his spare time, Wayne is a adjunct professor of stand-up history at USC.

WayneFederman.com

twitter - @Federman

instagram - @InstaFederman

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
294 global ratings
The most fascinating stories from a comedian who’s seen it all
5 Stars
The most fascinating stories from a comedian who’s seen it all
This book is a sharp, unfiltered peek at the people behind the jokes and what made them tick. Written in a conversational tone with plenty of wit and heaps of heart, the History of Stand-Up is a captivating read that will remind you how much humanity has always relied on comedy to connect us. You won’t find a more interesting collection of comic legends, filled with fun tidbits on the roots and evolution of comedy. A must buy for comedy lovers and history buffs.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Gennefer Gross
5.0 out of 5 stars The most fascinating stories from a comedian who’s seen it all
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book is a sharp, unfiltered peek at the people behind the jokes and what made them tick. Written in a conversational tone with plenty of wit and heaps of heart, the History of Stand-Up is a captivating read that will remind you how much humanity has always relied on comedy to connect us. You won’t find a more interesting collection of comic legends, filled with fun tidbits on the roots and evolution of comedy. A must buy for comedy lovers and history buffs.
Customer image
Gennefer Gross
5.0 out of 5 stars The most fascinating stories from a comedian who’s seen it all
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2022
This book is a sharp, unfiltered peek at the people behind the jokes and what made them tick. Written in a conversational tone with plenty of wit and heaps of heart, the History of Stand-Up is a captivating read that will remind you how much humanity has always relied on comedy to connect us. You won’t find a more interesting collection of comic legends, filled with fun tidbits on the roots and evolution of comedy. A must buy for comedy lovers and history buffs.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Gabriel V.
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun read.
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
Gifted this to a friend who is a stand up fan. Told me it was a good read.
Helpful
 Report
Matthew McGough
5.0 out of 5 stars couldn't put it down!
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a gem of a book -- a straight-forward short history of stand-up comedy, from the birth of the art form in the 1800s to the present day. I enjoy stand-up but had never really thought much about its evolution, and how it will continue to evolve in the future. Easy to read and highly recommended to anyone interested in comedy writing, cultural history, or just looking for a quick, enjoyable read on a quirky subject.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
ComedyGeek
5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2021
Verified Purchase
The History of Stand-up is an excellent chronology of an American art form. Wayne Federman brings us a concise story that contains lots of interesting facts. Why do they call it "working blue"? When did the term "Stand-up" first come into use? Who were the first stand ups and when did they start? I read it in one sitting. If you want to know about stand-up from a stand-up - this is your book.
Lou DiMaggio
Helpful
 Report
Editman
5.0 out of 5 stars If only all history were this entertaining!
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2022
Verified Purchase
As a life long fan of stand-up comedians, I was intrigued when I heard about this book. I must say, I was shocked at the depth of the knowledge and the (I guess I shouldn’t have been) humor that the author (Wayne Federman) brought to this subject. He not only knows the history but understands it and it’s progress (and cultural impact) at a DNA level as only another stand up/historian could. Bravo!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
PAC
4.0 out of 5 stars Would have liked more depth
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2021
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed the book as to the subject. I have as an adult taken a comedy class and done one onstage routine, which is why this book called to me. I learned some cool things of history in reading it. As an older adult the past events and names resonated with me. I do wish Mr. Federman would have gone more in depth, whether about the people or the events. Maybe personal stories that the named had contributed to the chapters. Perhaps an idea for a second edition update. I will read this book again and refer to it regularly. Worth the price for sure.
Helpful
 Report
Dave Varick
5.0 out of 5 stars CAPTIVATING COMEDY CULTURE JOURNEY!
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
An enlightening evolution of the purest and most powerful comedic art form. Professor Federman bookends the origins of monologists with today’s podcasters while lecturing on every medium in between. The author delivers you back to the 1850s to witness the birth of Stand-Up, qualifying the first group of orators as ‘The Four Forefathers.’ Explore the careers of satirist’s and joke tellers who shaped comedy culture. A comedy timeline celebrates momentous moments of the pioneers who dared to test the funny frontiers. ‘The History of Stand-Up’ is equal parts educational and entertaining. A mandatory assignment for the student of comedy!
Helpful
 Report
David
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting.
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
My buddy suggested I read this book. I thought it was a good read but I was pretty disappointed. He has an entire chapter on alternative comedy but mentioned Bill Hicks once maybe twice. My personal disagreement with the author has no impact on the quality of the book and shouldn't be taken to represent the quality product that this book undeniably is.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Zanougle
5.0 out of 5 stars Short and engaging historical work
Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
I liked how fluid it was reading the book and it opened my mind to things I did not know about stand-up comedy and lured me to reading about the people he mentioned in his book out of curiosity. Federman is also humble in not mentioning himself in the chapters pertaining to comics in the late 70s-80s and the other comedy movies he has been in. I bet his publisher wrote the "About the Author" section

On the other hand, I may be slightly picky but I found the second title of book "from Mark Twain to Dave Chapelle" a little misleading. He didn't start speaking about Twain, but he did mention him in the first chapter and the last chapter mentioned Chapelle but did not necessarily end with him.

Other than that I recommend this book to those who are interested in learning a brief history of stand-up.
Report
Ann Baxter
5.0 out of 5 stars stand-up
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2024
Verified Purchase
A very fine journey of the stand-ups through history - although not too deep it does satisfy the curiosity . Enjoyable
Report
Kevin G M
1.0 out of 5 stars A terribly written, terribly edited book (more a collection if lists actually).
Reviewed in Canada on July 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
I purchased this after hearing the "author" on the Dana Gould podcast. This seems to be an unfinished, unedited essay that's padded with lists of comedians. Abysmal.
Report
Ronan Lennon
3.0 out of 5 stars Nice overview
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
Nice overview of the topic, but as the author notes “the comedians’ by Kliph Nesteroff is a far more detailed view of the same material and has the room for better stories.
Note that is completely US focused.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report