The Big Book of Jewish Humor

The Big Book of Jewish Humor is a comprehensive anthology of Jewish jokes, stories, and comic writings spanning multiple generations and cultural contexts. The collection was compiled by William Novak and Moshe Waldoks in 1981. The book organizes Jewish humor into themed sections including self-deprecation, religious life, assimilation, and relationships. Material ranges from Yiddish folk tales to contemporary standup comedy, with contributions from figures like Woody Allen, Philip Roth, and Sholem Aleichem. Each section includes brief introductory texts that provide historical and cultural context for the humor samples. The editors draw from both American and European Jewish traditions, incorporating urban and shtetl perspectives. The collection illuminates how humor served as both a survival mechanism and a means of cultural preservation throughout Jewish history. Through its wide-ranging examples, the book documents the evolution of Jewish comic sensibility across changing times and circumstances.

Readers praise the book's mix of classic Jewish jokes, stories, and satire spanning multiple decades. Many note it serves as both entertainment and a lens into Jewish culture and humor traditions. Liked: - Comprehensive collection covering many Jewish humor styles - Historical context and commentary provided for jokes - Organization by themes makes it easy to browse - Includes lesser-known material beyond common jokes Disliked: - Some jokes feel dated or lost in translation - Several readers found the organization confusing - A few mention redundant content between sections - Some wanted more contemporary humor Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (478 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (121 ratings) "Perfect balance of funny and educational" - Goodreads reviewer "Great resource but could use updating" - Amazon reviewer "Some classics but many jokes haven't aged well" - LibraryThing reviewer

Born to Kvetch by Michael Wex A linguistic and cultural examination of Yiddish language reveals the roots of Jewish humor through centuries of diaspora life.

Old Jews Telling Jokes by Sam Hoffman, Eric Spiegelman The companion book to the web series presents classic Jewish jokes with commentary on their cultural significance and historical context.

The Encyclopedia of Jewish Humor by Henry D. Spalding This compilation documents Jewish wit from biblical times through the modern era with historical references and cultural insights.

Jewish Comedy: A Serious History by Jeremy Dauber A chronicle traces Jewish comedy from the Bible to the present through historical analysis and cultural documentation.

Seriously Funny by Gerald Nachman The book examines the lives and work of Jewish comedians who shaped American humor in the 1950s and 1960s through interviews and research.

🔹 William Novak co-wrote this influential anthology with Moshe Waldoks in 1981, establishing it as one of the first comprehensive collections of Jewish humor in English. 🔹 Beyond this collection, Novak became a renowned ghostwriter, penning autobiographies for celebrities including Magic Johnson, Lee Iacocca, and Nancy Reagan. 🔹 The book divides Jewish humor into distinct categories including self-deprecating jokes, tales of assimilation, and humor about antisemitism, reflecting how comedy helped Jewish communities cope with hardship. 🔹 Many jokes in the collection originated during the massive wave of Jewish immigration to America between 1881-1924, when approximately 2 million Eastern European Jews arrived in the United States. 🔹 The anthology includes works from notable Jewish comedians and writers such as Woody Allen, Philip Roth, and Sholem Aleichem, showcasing how Jewish humor evolved from shtetl stories to modern American comedy.