Knock, Knock: In Pursuit of a Grand Unified Theory of Humour by William Hartston
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This volume begins very well with a loose overview of those who have included humor in whatever they did creatively.
The book starts out very well as humor history is chronicled from the start of man through the Greeks and through the 1800s. Unbelievably, that is a smaller part of the book. The rest is the author’s view of humor, where a lot is left out, considering all we know.

The advent of technology involving books, newspapers, radio, tv and film are acknowledged. However, what all produced involving humor is barely written of. It’s as if the writer was running out of time and rushed writing to the end.

Delving into Twain, Mencken, George Kaufman, Dorothy Parker, Woody Allen, Neil Simon, etc. are hard to imagine not putting spotlights on involving humor. Steve Allen, who wrote volumes on humor, gets a mere mention.

I was really surprised at how cartooning is missing. Cartooning is entirely based in humor. From gag cartoons to comic strips to comic books, humor was the fire that started the various forms of communications.

Frankly, I think the author should have ended this book and worked to create a second and/or third volume.

This writer does have his feet in the U.K., so missing American hunor creators can be somewhat set aside. Though that raises questions of focus on folks like Arthur Askey, George Formby, Ken Dodd, etc. Moreover, tehre are so many internationally that are never mentioned.

Something only touched on, as the writer turns a bit political, is the advent of “Political Correctness” and the death of humor. That deserved a chapter in itself.

As with most writers today, this one also litters the book with ‘evolution’. This author includes the word dozens of times incorrectly. Again, I wish these writers would learn even the simplest theories involving evolutionary theory. All the writer, who misuse the word, do is red flag their ignorance of evolution and that questions whatever else is written.

Bottom line: I don’t recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.
I need to note that access to this book came via NetGalley.

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Bad Hombres by William W. Johnstone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book launched with top notch writing and intriguing scenes. The two main characters are pure-Johnstone brand. Well rounded and strong enough to have readers follow them in their treks.

This time the evil they are sent so solve builds up to a near-save-the-world level. It gets ridiculous, but fun. The duo interaction really adds to this series.

One line that really caught me and defined the bad guy, “…then placed it carefully on the table with a move so precise there wasn’t even a tiny click of glass toughing wood.” Outstanding line.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.
Access to review this book was made via NetGalley.com

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