Free Book (ADE) Jokes @ Univ of Chicago

koland · 03-01-2010, 10:59 AM

The University of Chicago Press' free book this month is Jokes: Philosophical Thoughts on Joking Matters ($8.58 Kindle), by Ted Cohen. This one is also in PDF format (DRM'd, not Kindle compatible; requires Adobe Digital Editions).

Book Description
Abe and his friend Sol are out for a walk together in a part of town they haven't been in before. Passing a Christian church, they notice a curious sign in front that says "$1,000 to anyone who will convert." "I wonder what that's about," says Abe. "I think I'll go in and have a look. I'll be back in a minute; just wait for me."

Sol sits on the sidewalk bench and waits patiently for nearly half an hour. Finally, Abe reappears.

"Well," asks Sol, "what are they up to? Who are they trying to convert? Why do they care? Did you get the $1,000?"

Indignantly Abe replies, "Money. That's all you people care about."

Ted Cohen thinks that's not a bad joke. But he also doesn't think it's an easy joke. For a listener or reader to laugh at Abe's conversion, a complicated set of conditions must be met. First, a listener has to recognize that Abe and Sol are Jewish names. Second, that listener has to be familiar with the widespread idea that Jews are more interested in money than anything else. And finally, the listener needs to know this information in advance of the joke, and without anyone telling him or her. Jokes, in short, are complicated transactions in which communities are forged, intimacy is offered, and otherwise offensive stereotypes and cliches lose their sting-at least sometimes.

Jokes is a book of jokes and a book about them. Cohen loves a good laugh, but as a philosopher, he is also interested in how jokes work, why they work, and when they don't. The delight at the end of a joke is the result of a complex set of conditions and processes, and Cohen takes us through these conditions in a philosophical exploration of humor. He considers questions of audience, selection of joke topics, the ethnic character of jokes, and their morality, all with plenty of examples that will make you either chuckle or wince. Jokes: more humorous than other philosophy books, more philosophical than other humor books.

Click HERE to sign up for the free download.

Marcy · 03-01-2010, 01:49 PM

Here is a direct link to the book, so you don't have to enter your email address:

http://www.bibliovault.org/cgi-bin/D...am9ophdLzH6ZaB

-Marcy

zelda_pinwheel · 03-01-2010, 06:02 PM

woohoo !! i managed to download this one !! thanks for the info, koland. i love jokes. and books about jokes. and books of jokes.

edbro · 03-01-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcy

Here is a direct link to the book, so you don't have to enter your email address:

http://www.bibliovault.org/cgi-bin/D...am9ophdLzH6ZaB

-Marcy

Won't work. If you DL this it will say that this has already been fulfilled by another member. You will need to get your own unique url.

03-01-2010, 10:59 AM	#1
koland Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,560 Karma: 8033155 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: TN, USA Device: kindle(all), nook, nookcolor, Sony, Kobo, epic, iphone, iPad, pc	Free Book (ADE) Jokes @ Univ of Chicago The University of Chicago Press' free book this month is *Jokes: Philosophical Thoughts on Joking Matters* ($8.58 Kindle), by Ted Cohen. This one is also in PDF format (DRM'd, not Kindle compatible; requires Adobe Digital Editions). Book Description Abe and his friend Sol are out for a walk together in a part of town they haven't been in before. Passing a Christian church, they notice a curious sign in front that says "$1,000 to anyone who will convert." "I wonder what that's about," says Abe. "I think I'll go in and have a look. I'll be back in a minute; just wait for me." Sol sits on the sidewalk bench and waits patiently for nearly half an hour. Finally, Abe reappears. "Well," asks Sol, "what are they up to? Who are they trying to convert? Why do they care? Did you get the $1,000?" Indignantly Abe replies, "Money. That's all you people care about." Ted Cohen thinks that's not a bad joke. But he also doesn't think it's an easy joke. For a listener or reader to laugh at Abe's conversion, a complicated set of conditions must be met. First, a listener has to recognize that Abe and Sol are Jewish names. Second, that listener has to be familiar with the widespread idea that Jews are more interested in money than anything else. And finally, the listener needs to know this information in advance of the joke, and without anyone telling him or her. Jokes, in short, are complicated transactions in which communities are forged, intimacy is offered, and otherwise offensive stereotypes and cliches lose their sting-at least sometimes. Jokes is a book of jokes and a book about them. Cohen loves a good laugh, but as a philosopher, he is also interested in how jokes work, why they work, and when they don't. The delight at the end of a joke is the result of a complex set of conditions and processes, and Cohen takes us through these conditions in a philosophical exploration of humor. He considers questions of audience, selection of joke topics, the ethnic character of jokes, and their morality, all with plenty of examples that will make you either chuckle or wince. Jokes: more humorous than other philosophy books, more philosophical than other humor books. Click HERE to sign up for the free download. Last edited by koland; 03-01-2010 at 11:02 AM.

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03-01-2010, 01:49 PM	#2
Marcy Guru Posts: 893 Karma: 950683 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra2	Here is a direct link to the book, so you don't have to enter your email address: http://www.bibliovault.org/cgi-bin/D...am9ophdLzH6ZaB -Marcy

03-01-2010, 06:02 PM	#3
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	woohoo !! i managed to download this one !! thanks for the info, koland. i love jokes. and books about jokes. and books of jokes.

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