The Humor Code

2 guys. 19 experiments.
5 continents. 91,000 miles.

Part road-trip comedy and part social science experiment, a scientist and a journalist detail their epic quest to discover the secret behind what makes things funny.

Dr. Peter McGraw, director of the Humor Research Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, teamed up with journalist Joel Warner on a far-reaching search for the secret behind humor. Their journey spanned the globe, from New York to Japan, from Palestine to the Amazon. Meanwhile, the duo conducts their own humor experiments along the way—to wince-worthy, hilarious, and illuminating results.

Buy The Humor Code

Read The First Chapter

In their quixotic search, they questioned countless experts, including rat-tickling researchers, and answered pressing (and not-so-pressing) questions such as, “What’s the secret to winning the New Yorker cartoon caption contest?” “Who has the bigger funny bone—men or women, Democrats or Republicans?” and “Is laughter really the best medicine?” As a final test, McGraw uses everything they learned to attempt stand-up—at the largest comedy festival in the world.

Select Praise for The Humor Code

If you’ve ever wondered why we laugh at what we do, you have to read this book about the DNA of humor . . . It’s part Indiana Jones, part Tina Fey, and part Crime Scene Investigation—it will make you smarter and happier.”

Peter and Joel’s globe-spanning search for what makes things funny is a wonderful page-turner that entertains as much as it informs.

The Humor Code is so good that I wish I wrote it. In fact, I’ve already started telling people I did. Luckily, Pete McGraw and Joel Warner are givers, so they won’t mind. They’ve given us a remarkable look at what makes us laugh, with the perfect blend of science, stories, satire, and sweater vests. This book has bestseller written all over it.

A global search for what makes things funny.

By Peter McGraw
& Joel Warner

Funny, surprising, and often touching, The Humor Code is a revealing exploration of humor, society and an unusual friendship.

C.V.

The Humor Code

2 guys. 19 experiments.
5 continents. 91,000 miles.

Select Praise for The Humor Code

The Humor Code

A global search for what makes things funny.

By Peter McGraw
& Joel Warner

Table of Contents

1. Colorado: Set-up

2. Los Angeles: Who is funny?

3. New York: How do you make funny?

4. Tanzania: Why do we laugh?

5. Japan: When is comedy lost in translation?

6. Scandinavia: Does humor have a dark side?

7. Palestine: Can you find humor where you least expect it?

8. The Amazon: Is laughter the best medicine?

9. Montreal: Punch line

The Humor Code

2 guys. 19 experiments.5 continents. 91,000 miles.

Select Praise for The Humor Code

The Humor Code

A global search for what makes things funny.

By Peter McGraw& Joel Warner

Table of Contents

1. Colorado: Set-up

2. Los Angeles: Who is funny?

3. New York: How do you make funny?

4. Tanzania: Why do we laugh?

5. Japan: When is comedy lost in translation?

6. Scandinavia: Does humor have a dark side?

7. Palestine: Can you find humor where you least expect it?

8. The Amazon: Is laughter the best medicine?

9. Montreal: Punch line

2 guys. 19 experiments.
5 continents. 91,000 miles.

By Peter McGraw
& Joel Warner