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12%OFFJoe Berkowitz - Away with Words: An Irreverent Tour Through the World of Pun Competitions - 9780062495600 - V9780062495600
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Away with Words: An Irreverent Tour Through the World of Pun Competitions

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Description for Away with Words: An Irreverent Tour Through the World of Pun Competitions Paperback. Num Pages: 288 pages. BIC Classification: APB; BGF. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 203 x 135 x 16. Weight in Grams: 294.
Fast Company reporter Joe Berkowitz investigates the bizarre and hilarious world of pun competitions from the Punderdome 3000 in Brooklyn to the World competition in Austin. When Joe Berkowitz witnessed his first Punderdome competition, it felt wrong in the best way. Something impossible seemed to be happening. The kinds of jokes we learn to repress through social conditioning were not only being aired out in public-they were being applauded. As it turned out, this monthly show was part of a subculture that's been around in one form or another since at least the late '70s. Its pinnacle is the O. Henry Pun Off World Championship, an annual tournament in Austin, Texas. As someone who is terminally self-conscious, Joe was both awed and jealous of these people who confidently killed with the most maligned form of humor. In this immersive ride into the subversive world of pun competitions, we meet punsters weird and wonderful and Berkowitz is our tour guide. Puns may show up in life in subtle ways sometimes, but once you start thinking in puns you discover they're everywhere. Berkowitz's search to discover who makes them the most, and why, leads him to the professional comedian competitors on @Midnight, a TV show with a pun competition built into it, the writing staff of Bob's Burgers, the punniest show on TV, and even a humor research conference. With his new unlikely band of punster brothers, he finally heads to Austin to compete in the World Championship. Of course, in befriending these comic misfits he also ended up learning that when you embrace puns you become a more authentic version of yourself.

Product Details

Publisher
Harper Perennial
Format
Paperback
Publication date
2017
Condition
New
Weight
293g
Number of Pages
288
Place of Publication
New York, United States
ISBN
9780062495600
SKU
V9780062495600
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 15 to 20 working days
Ref
99-15

About Joe Berkowitz
Joe Berkowitz Joe Berkowitz is an editor and staff writer at Fast Company, covering entertainment and pop culture. He is the coauthor of You Blew It. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and an ideal tuxedo cat.

Reviews for Away with Words: An Irreverent Tour Through the World of Pun Competitions
Relentlessly hilarious, mercilessly self-aware, and consistently compassionate, Away with Words isn't just a chronicle of competitive punning but also a story about discovering where you belong and claiming your destiny.
Josh Gondelman, coauthor of You Blew It People often dismiss puns and punsters out of hand, but Joe Berkowitz reveals the best for who they really are - quirky, creative and often truly brilliant.
John Pollack, former Presidential Speechwriter for Bill Clinton and author of The Pun Also Rises: How the Humble Pun Revolutionized Language, Changed History, and Made Wordplay More Than Some Antics If competitive pun-makers can be heroes, Away with Words tells the tale of a hero's journey.
Jo Firestone, cocreator of Punderdome 3000 I love Joe Berkowitz's writing. He combines a down-to-earth, sometimes skeptical eye with a fantastic sense of humor and a true joy in creativity. He's a cool dude because he's also a nerd par excellence. Of course he became obsessed with puns. Get into his wordy weird brain and enjoy yourself
Sara Benincasa, author of Real Artists Have Day Jobs This funny little book results from Berkowitz's yearlong dive into the subculture of pun competitions. Of most fun is Berkowitz sharing in detail his own nerve-wracking performance at the World Championships, as well those of his competitors. Recommended for passionate readers of books about words and wordplay.
Library Journal

Goodreads reviews for Away with Words: An Irreverent Tour Through the World of Pun Competitions


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