Improv Library :: Improv-Abilities

Improv Library

Look! Piles of improv books! This page is intended to be a resource for what you can read to learn about improv and comedy in general. Somebody in the troupe has read each one of these at some point and/or owns it. Books at the top of the list tend to be more about improv and the topics get more varied as the list goes on. Enjoy. If you have any suggestions for books to add to this list that we should read, let us know.

	Improvisation for the Theater The improv director's bible. This lady pretty much started our incarnation of comedy theater.
	Improvise Only a few years old, it's a very basic breakdown of Annoyances "Power Improv" style. A pretty darn good read.
	Improvising Better Analysis and fixes for the top 10 mistakes experienced improvisers make. Great 2006 publication.
	Something Wonderful Right Away This is more of a recounting of how the Second City came to be as it is today. More just improv nerd history reading than an improv resource. Still a pretty good read, though.
	Truth in Comedy The current cannon of long form improv. "The best first book to read on improv"
	The Second City Almanac of Improvisation Essays by tons of SC players as well as many great anecdotal tips. The last few chapters detail the method SC uses to create sketches and produce/direct shows
	Impro It's a pretty standard tool written by the guy that invented Theatersports, Johnstone. It's recommended reading throughout the improv community.
	Impro for Storytellers Another book by Keith Johnstone. A reccomended follow-up to his first book, Impro.
	Directing Improv If you're ever even THINKING about directing a troupe, read this short topical book. You won't regret it.
	Improv for Actors Diggles reapplies improv concepts to traditional theater
	Improv Comedy Reccommended reading. Plenty of discussion of character and plot.
	Theater Games for the Lone Actor Designed to help you practice Viola's techniques by yourself
	The Art of Chicago Improv Starts with a historical perspective on improv, then speaks to what it means to do a long form.
	The Compass History of The Compass. Details out the time, place, and people at the University of Chicago at the times of this revolutionary theater.
	The Second City: Backstage at the World's Greatest Comedy Theater History of The Second City, starting with Spolin
	Acting on Impulse; The Art of Making Improv Theater Very good improv book focusing on challenging stereotypical short-form improv to become something bigger and better, with more emotion, reality, and depth.
	Interactive Acting Deals with improvised and audience-participation theater.
	Days and Nights at The Second City Cool history and philosophy; also a great second half that deals with putting together a show
	Improv Wisdom A self-help book that employs the principles of improv. I even walked away learning a thing or two about improv.
	Mr. Show: What Happened? Enjoyable for fans of the excellent sketch show. Not particularly educational.
	The Pythons: Autobiography of The Pythons A retrospective of what made this revolutionary sketch comedy troupe so evocative and how.
	Going Too Far A look at comedy that creates controversey. Focuses on early examples, like Second City, MAD Magazine, National Lampoon, Lenny Bruce, etc.
	The Comedy Bible Step-by-step direction on how to focus yourself to become a stand-up comedian. Funny read too.
	Writing Humor a detailed analysis of how many famous writers have used humor in their books. Interviews with John Cleese, Fannie Flagg, Larry Gelbart, Cherie Eichen and Bill Steinkellner
	The Physical Comedy Handbook Guidance in how to do physical comedy. Of course, It can't SHOW you, its just a book.
	The Mime Book "Yes, I bought a book called the Mime Book. Stop judging me."
	Training to Imagine Basics of running improv workshops for corporate clients.
	Comedy Writing Step by Step Insight on how to make a career out of writing comedy. Not so much on how to entertain, more on logistics of how to write and then sell the writing.
	If Chins Could Kill Confessions of a B Movie Actor. It combines Bruce's life story with how-to guidance on making independent films and becoming a pop culture cult hero.
	Group Improvisation: The Manual of Ensemble Improv Games The title makes it sound like it's improv games. It's not. It's warmup games.
	The Ultimate Improv Book Beginners guide. Focuses on the rules. Seems kinda cerebral. Is essentially, the opposite of Napier's book. However, if you're Amish and want to start a troupe of your own, this might be a good book.