FindMyTBR
The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged)
In The Comedians , comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff brings to life a century of American comedy with real-life characters, forgotten stars, mainstream heroes, and counterculture iconoclasts.
About The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged)
In The Comedians , comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff brings to life a century of American comedy with real-life characters, forgotten stars, mainstream heroes, and counterculture iconoclasts. Based on over 200 original interviews and extensive archival research, Nesteroff's groundbreaking work is a narrative exploration of the way comedians have reflected, shaped, and changed American culture over the past 100 years. Starting with the vaudeville circuit at the turn of the last century, Nesteroff introduces the first stand-up comedian - an emcee who abandoned physical shtick for straight jokes. After the repeal of Prohibition, Mafia-run supper clubs replaced speakeasies, and mobsters replaced vaudeville impresarios as the comedian's primary employer. In the 1950s, the late-night talk show brought stand-up to a wide public, while Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, and Jonathan Winters attacked conformity and staged a comedy rebellion in coffeehouses. From comedy's part in the Civil Rights movement and the social upheaval of the late 1960s to the first comedy clubs of the 1970s and the cocaine-fueled comedy boom of the 1980s, The Comedians culminates with a new era of media-driven celebrity in the 21st century.
Where to listen & where it's available
The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged) is available as an audiobook on Apple Books. We haven't confirmed it on Spotify yet — but you can still search there below.
Buy or compare copies of The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged)
Retailer links open each store's page for this title. As an Amazon Associate, FindMyTBR may earn from qualifying purchases — see our affiliate disclosure.
More by Kliph Nesteroff
The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged) — frequently asked
- Is The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged) on Spotify?
- We haven't confirmed The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged) on Spotify's audiobook catalog yet. Spotify audiobooks are included with Premium (up to a monthly listening limit) in supported markets.
- Is The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged) on Apple Books?
- Yes — The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged) is available as an audiobook on Apple Books.
- Who wrote The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged)?
- The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged) is by Kliph Nesteroff.
- Where can I buy the The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged) audiobook?
- Audible and Amazon both carry audiobooks; use the retailer links on this page to go straight to The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy (Unabridged). For print copies, compare Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.
FindMyTBR aggregates audiobook availability across Spotify, Apple Books, Audible, and Amazon so you can
move your Goodreads TBR to audio. Availability reflects titles we've confirmed; a service with no badge
just hasn't been confirmed yet. Covers via Open Library.
Search your whole Goodreads shelf →