Mathematics and Humor

John Allen Paulos cleverly scrutinizes the mathematical structures of jokes, puns, paradoxes, spoonerisms, riddles, and other forms of humor, drawing examples from such sources as Rabelais, Shakespeare, James Beattie, Ren Thom, Lewis Carroll, Arthur Koestler, W. C. Fields, and Woody Allen.

"Jokes, paradoxes, riddles, and the art of non-sequitur are revealed with great perception and insight in this illuminating account of the relationship between humor and mathematics."-Joseph Williams, New York Times

"'Leave your mind alone, ' said a Thurber cartoon, and a really complete and convincing analysis of what humour is might spoil all jokes forever. This book avoids that danger. What it does. . .is describe broadly several kinds of mathematical theory and apply them to throw sidelights on how many kinds of jokes work."-New Scientist

"Many scholars nowadays write seriously about the ludicrous. Some merely manage to be dull. A few-like Paulos-are brilliant in an odd endeavor."-Los Angeles Times Book Review

Author: John Allen Paulos
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Published: 11/15/1982
Pages: 124
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.47lbs
Size: 8.21h x 7.93w x 0.27d
ISBN: 9780226650258

About the Author
John Allen Paulos is professor of mathematics at Temple University. His most recent book is "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences."