Chapter 1 "Stevie Ray's Pyramid of Comedy"
To ask why people laugh is to ask why people eat. Some people eat because they know it is healthy for them; others eat as a reaction to stress. For some, eating is the focus of their lives. Eating can also be a response to psychological disorders, the symptom of deep emotional pain that causes the eater to use food as a crutch. Even though eating is a necessity and a person must eat to stay alive, the motivation to eat can be either healthy or dysfunctional. Laughter is no different than other physical needs.
Chapter 10 "The Conditions of Laughter"
The Laws of Laughter must be in place for laughter to occur. There are subtle and often unconscious things a person can do that destroy these conditions. Those who aspire to be funny, whether on stage or in everyday life, should take special care to preserve these elements. These three conditions are the foundation of laughter, and work in harmony with each other: A Feeling of Detachment, A Light-Hearted Atmosphere, Permission to Laugh.
Chapter 11 "The Laws of Laughter"
Laughter can be separated into two main areas: Comedic Laughter, and Instinctive Laughter. Comedy laughter is a response to a situation. There are four main areas of Comedic Laughter:
•Laughter of the Unexpected
•Laughter of Recognition
•Laughter of Superiority
•Laughter of Delight
Chapter 18 "Be Funnier"
Have a Target. As we see from the chapter of Laughter of Superiority, people need to feel they are besting someone in order to laugh. If there is no target, there is no laughter. The problem for most people when dealing with humor is finding the right balance. Some people make everything a target. They risk appearing insensitive and vulgar. Others are so middle of the road they don't really say anything definitive. Comedy is about taking a stance and saying, "To hell with what you think, this is what I think." If you don't have a target, then it's just conversation.
