Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Preface to the new edition vii
3. Acknowledgments xiii
4. Contents xv
5. Chapter 1. Introduction: Jokes, humor, and taste 1
6. Part I: Style and social background
7. Chapter 2. The joke: Genesis of an oral genre 23
8. Chapter 3. Joke telling as communication style 42
9. Chapter 4. The humor divide: Class, age and humor styles 71
10. Chapter 5. The logic of humor styles 102
11. Part II: Taste and quality
12. Chapter 6. The repertoire: Dutch joke culture 123
13. Chapter 6. The repertoire: Dutch joke culture 150
14. Chapter 8. Sense and sociability 170
15. Part III: Comparing humor styles
16. Chapter 9. National humor styles: Humor styles, joke telling and social background in the United States 197
17. Chapter 10. Sociology and the joke 232
18. Appendix 1. The jokes used in the Dutch survey 253
19. Appendix 2. Dutch humorists and television programs 259
20. References 264
21. Subject index 276