Author: Ince, Robin
Literary essays
Published on 5 November 2026 by Melville House UK in the United Kingdom as part of 'the FUTURES' series.
Paperback | 144 pages
110 x 178 x 14 | 124g
When did laughter become part of ouruniverse? Were we the first planet to have a sense of humour? What was thefirst joke? Was it made by a chimpanzee or a crow?These are just a few of the questionserstwhile comedian Robin Ince considers in The Future of Jokes, bringingin elements from science, technology, politics, philosophy and culture to probejust why we need jokes. What can they teach us about ourselves and our future?Comedy means different things to differentpeople: it can be an act of rebellion, and it can be an act of reinforcing thestatus quo. It can be expression and it can be repression. Joke-telling isabout authenticity and connection Ince argues, and artistic creativity makes ushuman. We can choose to share love and connection via jokes or spread uglinessand outrage. Which future do we want?