A Sense of Humor
1983
Prose
The Toothpaste Press
Letter-pressed in an edition of 200.
Published in celebration of the author's reading at St. Catherine's College as part of the Walker Art Center Reading Series.
Excerpt
I don’t remember who said it but somebody said, in fact wrote it down in a book:
“Sober people can’t take humor seriously.”
And it’s true. If you’re a writer you should know that you lose genius points with one whole set of people every time you make them laugh. And if you really get to them and make them laugh a lot they may just give you up as a hopeless and not to be counted on.
Critics of that persuasion will say things about you like “not to be taken seriously!”
Mark Twain got the short end of that stick. Saul Steinberg. Make up your own list.
Those guys who opt for the miseries as what they can understand never have to worry about laughing in the wrong place.