210. What Makes a Good Sense of Humor?
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What is the evolutionary purpose of laughter? What’s the difference between Swedish depression and American depression? And why aren’t aliens interested in abducting Mike? 

• SOURCES:

• Jennifer Aaker), professor of marketing at Stanford University.

• Judd Apatow), film director, screenwriter, and comedian.

• Fredrik Backman), author.

• Naomi Bagdonas), lecturer in management at Stanford University.

• James Corden), actor, comedian, and former late-night television host.

• Dick Costolo), former C.E.O. of Twitter.

• Carol Dweck), professor of psychology at Stanford University.

• Jimmy Fallon), comedian and late-night television host.

• Daniel Kahneman), professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.

• Jimmy Kimmel), comedian and late-night television host.

• Larry LaPrise), 20th-century American singer-songwriter.

• Jerry Seinfeld), comedian, actor, and writer.

• RESOURCES:

• "Fredrik Backman on Creative Anxiety and Procrastination)," by Fredrik Backman (Simon & Schuster Centennial Celebration, 2024).

• "The Relative Importance of Joke and Audience Characteristics in Eliciting Amusement)," by Hannes Rosenbusch, Anthony M. Evans, and Marcel Zeelenberg (*Psychological Science, *2022).

• "The 100-Million-Year Origin Story of Laughter and Humor)," by Dean Russell (*Endless Thread, *2022).

• Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.))*, *by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas (2021).

• "What Makes Things Funny? An Integrative Review of the Antecedents of Laughter and Amusement)," by Caleb Warren, Adam Barsky, and A. Peter McGraw (*Personality and Social Psychology Review, *2020).

• Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy)*, *by Judd Apatow (2015).

• How to Win Friends and Influence People)*, *by Dale Carnegie (1936).

• EXTRAS:

• "Can A.I. Take a Joke?)" by *Freakonomics Radio *(2023).

• "The Comedian-Ophthalmologist Will See You Now)," by *Freakonomics, M.D. *(2022).

• There's Something About Mary)*, *film (1998).