Books like The History of Stand-Up by Wayne Federman


Wayne Federman’s *The History of Stand‑up* offers a concise, engaging chronicle of stand‑up comedy’s evolution in the United States. Beginning with pioneers like Artemus Ward and Mark Twain, the book surveys the genre’s growth through vaudeville, the comedy boom, and the modern digital era. Federman examines how American values of individualism, freedom of speech, and entrepreneurial spirit, combined with mass media, transportation, and immigrant culture, created a fertile environment for comedic self‑expression. Highlighting venues from the Palace and Apollo to the Comedy Cellar and Netflix specials, the narrative follows stand‑up’s reach from intimate venues to global arenas, illustrating how the art form has influenced social and political discourse. The lively, breezy style makes complex historical threads accessible to readers eager to understand the roots and impact of American stand‑up comedy.
First publish date: 2021
Genre: History/Modern History
Authors: Wayne Federman
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The History of Stand-Up by Wayne Federman

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Some Other Similar Books

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