Does Jimmy Carr think comedy can be taught, and what is in his book on jokes?

Jimmy Carr says comedy can be taught and is not something you are born with. His book on jokes, written with Amanda Baker and Abby Grant, has three parts: a taxonomy of joke types such as the pullback reveal and the pun, how to build routines, and how to perform. He notes that Jerry Seinfeld and Doug Stanhope doubt comedy can be taught, yet both learned from mentors and a home club. He compares the book to musical notation, which he says made Bach possible.

• Baker and Grant tested the material with a six-week course for young comics at the Mothership.
• Carr says that if he writes 100 jokes, about five work, and the audience decides which ones.
• Rogan credits Kill Tony with launching more careers than anyone since Johnny Carson.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on The Joe Rogan Experience (2026-10-28). Read the whole episode summary →

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