The Pun Also Rises; How the Humble Pun Revolutionized Language, Changed History, and Made Wordplay More Than Some Antics
New York: Avery [An imprint of Penguin Random House], 2012. First Trade Paperback Edition [Stated]. Later printing. Trade paperback. xxv, [3], 211 pages. xxv, [3], 211, [1] pages. Endnotes. Select Bibliography. Index. This copy has a gift card and has a gift inscription to the recipient that reads: To Roger Lewis the NNSA Pun Master. Shawna". There is a large vertical crease down the front cover. John Pollack (born c. 1965) served as a Special Assistant to the President and Presidential Speechwriter for Bill Clinton, was a foreign correspondent, and was an advisor to prominent leaders and philanthropists. Pollack is a noted authority on analogy, wordplay, creativity, and innovation. In 1988 he graduated from Stanford University with an AB in American Studies. In 1995, Pollack won the O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships. He wrote a book about puns and the history of wordplay, referencing his experience competing in the pun competition. Pollack began his journalism career writing for The Hartford Courant, and later spent several years in Spain as a foreign correspondent. He served as a project manager for the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, now known as The Henry Ford. He moved to Washington, D.C., where he became a speechwriter for Representative David E. Bonior, and later for President Bill Clinton at The White House. He is the author of four books: The World On a String: How to Become a Freelance Foreign Correspondent; Cork Boat: A True Story of the Unlikeliest Boat Ever Built; The Pun Also Rises: How the Humble Pun Revolutionized Language, Changed History and Made Wordplay more than Some Antics; and Shortcut: How Analogies Reveal Connections, Spark Innovation and Sell Our Greatest Ideas. A funny, erudite, and provocative exploration of puns, the people who make them, and this derided wordplay's remarkable impact on human history. In The Pun Also Rises, John Pollack-a former World Pun Champion and presidential speechwriter for Bill Clinton-explains why puns matter: They revolutionized language and played a pivotal role in making the modern world possible. Skillfully weaving together stories and evidence from history, brain science, pop culture, literature, anthropology, and humor, The Pun Also Rises is an authoritative yet playful exploration of puns. With an engaging narrative, this book answers fundamental questions: Just what are puns? Why do people make them? How did punning impact the development of human language, and how did that drive creativity and progress? And why, after centuries of decline, does the pun still matter? At once entertaining and educational, this engaging book builds a compelling case for the powerful and enduring role of puns in human discourse and innovation, and why they'll always be more than just some antics. Condition: Good.
Keywords: Puns, Humor, Comedy, Wordplay, Language, Word Usage, Linguistics, Creativity, Jokes
ISBN: 9781592406753
[Book #91864]
Price: $32.50