Humor That Works » Recommended Reading

Improv Wisdom

Andrew Tarvin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:53:06 +0000

Improv Wisdom, by Patricia Ryan Madson, is one of my favorite books on the use of improv for non-performance. The book focuses not on the act of improv, but on the life lessons learned from the art and the change it can effect. To me, it answers the question for performers and non-performers alike, “why improvise?”

Buy Now | Read Life Lessons from Improv Wisdom

Iconoclast

Andrew Tarvin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:25:05 +0000

The book Iconoclast by Gregory Berns takes a look at the creative process from a neurological perspective. Using recent advances in neuroscience, Berns disproves previous assumptions about creativity and describes ways that we can all learn to think differently. A great book both in terms of content and style of writing, definitely worth the read for anyone looking to be more creative in their work.

Buy Now | Creativity and Improv (A look at the adaptation by FastCompany)

Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out

Andrew Tarvin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:49:36 +0000

In the book Improvise: Scene from the Inside Out, improv guru Mick Napier explains how to build an improv scene from the inside out. And while the book is a must-read for improviser, there are also a lot of valuable lessons that can be applied in business and life.

Buy It Now | 6 Nuggets of Wisdom from Improvise

Watchmen

Andrew Tarvin — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:29:36 +0000

Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, is the first fiction book on the list and it is a good one. I recommend it for a few reasons: 1) It’s a great story with compelling characters, 2) It’s a graphic novel which is a different medium than most books (and something we could all learn from–imagine a training guide in this format), and 3) There are a number of valuable lessons hidden in the fascinating story. I will make a bit of a disclaimer in that this book is not for children and contains some adult language and situations

Buy It Now | Life Lessons Learned from Watchmen

One Person Multiple Careers

Andrew Tarvin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:57:57 +0000

One Person/Multiple Careers by Marci Alboher focuses on what Alboher refers to as the “slash effect”–the growing popularity of individuals having more than one career. The book covers a number of areas that can help you balance the demands of having more than one focus in terms of work and life.

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Why “Work/Life Balance” Sucks

The 4-Hour Workweek

Andrew Tarvin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:14:53 +0000

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss is a revolutionary book that explains how to break away from the typical 9-5 job and become a member of the new rich. While it would be difficult for many of us to implement everything Ferriss talks about in his book, you can apply many of the techniques to improve your work/life balance and redefine what success in the corporate world looks like. Just be careful, you may look at another job the same way again.

Buy It Now

Why “Work/Life Balance” Sucks

Getting Things Done

Andrew Tarvin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:59:58 +0000

Getting Things Done by David Allen is a National Bestseller and is perhaps the most well-known book on personal productivity. What sets the book apart is that it not only discusses theory for “the art of stress-free productivity,” but also gives you a step-by-step guide to how you can achieve it. I’ve implemented many of the tips in this book at both work and home, and it’s allowed me to do more of the things that I want to do, while weeding out the unnecessary work that was holding me back.

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The Inner Game of Tennis

Andrew Tarvin — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:27:02 +0000

The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey is, at the basic level, a book about mastering the mental side of peak performance, specifically in the field of tennis. However the book explores more than just ways to perfect your backhand, as it dives into areas of conscious and unconscious habits that can relate to anything from tennis to stand-up comedy to giving a presentation.

Buy It Now | Learning from The Inner Game of Tennis

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Andrew Tarvin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:09:58 +0000

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey has become one of the best selling books in the realm of Personal Development. With over 15 million copies sold, the seven habits (be proactive; begin with the end in mind; put first things first; think win/win; seek first to understand, then to be understood; synergize; and sharpen the saw) have helped many people focus on what’s most important to them. Though not directly pertaining to humor in the workplace, the book does help you understand how to create a sense of work/life balance.

Buy It Now | 7 Things I Learned from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People