In the first episode of season 1, host Rebecca Thandi Norman welcomes comedian and writer Josh Gondelman to discuss the classic kids' comedy book, Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar. They dive into how to structure jokes for kids that still resonate with adults and to how this book is reflected in Josh's own work. How does a comedian build his comedic sensibility? Books are a pretty good start!

Read Sideways Stories from Wayside School

Subscribe to Josh's newsletter, That's Marvelous!

Read Josh's book, Nice Try: Stories of Best Intentions and Mixed Results

Resources we discussed off-mic:

Labour Notes

How Things Work by Hamilton Nolan

Salvo by Kim Kelly

Jacobin articles by Alex N. Press

Have questions or comments? Get in touch: bookimprintpodcast@gmail.com. Follow along on Instagram at @bookimprintpodcast.

This podcast is hosted by Rebecca Thandi Norman, produced by Kate Krosschell, and sound engineered by Winther Robinson. Title music is by DJARTMUSIC.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Imprint is a podcast about the books that change our lives before the age of 25; the books that imprint on us.

Host Rebecca Thandi Norman, previously host of Tea & Murder: An Agatha Christie Podcast, interviews each guest about the book that they feel changed their life. From writers to comedians to musicians and anyone else you can imagine, Rebecca takes the perspective that "everyone is interesting," and books affect all of us in deep and specific ways.

Join us for season 1! Have questions or comments? Write to us at bookimprintpodcast@gmail.com and follow along at @bookimprintpodcast.

This podcast is hosted by Rebecca Thandi Norman, produced by Kate Krosschell, and sound engineered by Winther Robinson. Title music is by DJARTMUSIC.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.