Rating: 
Summary: Simple, short, and useful
Review: "The Comic Toolbox" is very to the point as to what comedy is, and how it is created. It outlines a basic structure so easy to use that anyone with a decent grasp of the english language can write a humorous skit or scene. Though, for my money, I would also get "Comedy writing step by step." It grasps far deeper than Vourhous's basic outline, and is very comprehensive. Use "Comic Toolbox" as a quick reference, but use "Step by Step" as a guide.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best
Review: Although it focuses on writing comedy, "The Comic Toolbox" offers a lot of good advice that applies to screenwriting in general. It's written in a breezy, humorous way that makes it a particularly good read. Of the many books on screenwriting out there, this is one of the best.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a comic toolbox!
Review: As a professional comedian I have shelves of books on comedy. I always enjoy exploring new books just in hopes to extract one or two useful bits of information. The comic toolbox has TONS of useful information. I have used many of the author's tools to review and rewrite my current material to make it stronger and in helping me develop new material. The author's writing style is very pleasant and gets to the point in a lighthearted fashion. Whether you are writing comedy for tv, movies, or the stage this book is worth the small investment into your career.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for ALL branches of comedy
Review: As a professional comedian I have shelves of books on comedy. I always enjoy exploring new books just in hopes to extract one or two useful bits of information. The comic toolbox has TONS of useful information. I have used many of the author's tools to review and rewrite my current material to make it stronger and in helping me develop new material. The author's writing style is very pleasant and gets to the point in a lighthearted fashion. Whether you are writing comedy for tv, movies, or the stage this book is worth the small investment into your career.
Rating:
Summary: #1book on comedy writing!
Review: Don't believe any review under 5 stars...this is THE book you need. I've been on a quest since I was a teenager to find a good comedy writing book. I've read them all and they've all been lacking...lacking in real help, lacking in humor, and lacking in inspiration. Until "The Comic Toolbox". The author lays out in perfect detail how to create comedy. In addition, he's very inspirational and very funny. There's only one source better than "The Comic Toolbox" and that's the author's in-person seminar. I just attended one and it blew me away.
Rating:
Summary: Too juvenile and obvious
Review: I can't recommend this cheap attempt at telling you how to write humor. It is both too simplistic and obvious to generate any real energy. The author is culling observations that anyone could. If you buy this book be forewarned that you won't come away with anything new, just rehashed.
Rating:
Summary: The Character and Plot Toolbox: Some Assembly Required
Review: I love The Comic Toolbox and would recommend it to anyone interested in writing good fiction, whether it be comic or otherwise. If you are trying to write a stand up act, however, you'll probably do better with Judy Carter's books, The Comedy Bible and Stand Up Comedy: The Book.
Vorhaus has a very simple and useful method for creating satisfying plots and characters readers will love. Everything Tami D. Cowden said in her review is true:
"No other book on writing I've read - and I've read a lot! - kept me chuckling throughout. I'd recommend this book for the laughs alone, but I can also recommend it as the fount of writing wisdom it entails.
Vorhaus not only explains the basic types of humor and the elements of a comic plot, but also lays out an excellent plotting structure useful for any type of fiction writing. Whether you merely want to add a few touches of humor to an angsty story, or you want to write the next comic blockbuster, this book will help you on your way."
Although Tami D recommends chapter 9 (this entire chapter consists of the one line "Of course, no book on comedy would be complete without a comprehensive discussion on practical jokes"), I would recommend skimming chapter one. It includes Vorhaus's basic formula of comedy, truth+pain=comedy, which I don't agree with. A terrorist attack is truth+pain but tragic and not comic, while "what did the mayonnaise say to the refrigerator?" is comic without being true or painful. So don't take the first chapter too seriously, and know the good stuff is just around the page.
This book could help simplify writing a good story for a lot of writers. I hope it does.
Rating:
Summary: Best book around except .....
Review: I tremendously enjoyed reading the book. And the insights and ideas you get really blow your mind. One disadvantage is that it`s text only, so it`s sometimes hard to filter out the pure structure and the bone of it all. But being not the constantly complaining german as you would assume I made a virtue of it and reread the book and tried to write down a 9-pages abstract of the book and I think this process (process not product!) helped me to get more out of the book than it would have been otherwise possible.(You college graduates knew that all along!) Give it a go!
Rating: 
Summary: Add to your collection. . .
Review: I use three of the tools. Great stuff, gets the mind working like I want it to work when it comes to comedy. Plus, he has some very positive words of encouragement. However, he spends a lot of time on the comedic story and sitcoms.........I was looking for comedy for the stand up stage. But.......I bought it, loved it...Actually, 3 1/2 stars would be about right.
Rating:
Summary: Add to your collection. . .
Review: I use three of the tools. Great stuff, gets the mind working like I want it to work when it comes to comedy. Plus, he has some very positive words of encouragement. However, he spends a lot of time on the comedic story and sitcoms.........I was looking for comedy for the stand up stage. But.......I bought it, loved it...Actually, 3 1/2 stars would be about right.
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