The Insanity Defense: The Complete Prose

By Woody Allen

Book Overview

Comprising the classic bestsellers Getting Even, Without Feathers , and Side Effects , this definitive collection of comic writings is from a man who needs no Introduction. Really-this book has no Introduction. The Insanity Defense reveals many sides of Woody Allen as he holds forth on the most human of urges ("Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only for food: frequently there must be a beverage"); reflects on death ("I don't believe in an afterlife, although I am bringing a change of underwear"); and notes the effect on history wrought by trick chewing gum, the dribble glass, and other novelties. There is also an inspiring story of the futile race to beat Dr. Heimlich to the punch: "The food went down the wrong pipe, and choking occurred. Grasping the mouse firmly by the tail, I snapped it like a small whip, and the morsel of cheese came loose. If we can transfer the procedure to humans, we may have something. Too early to tell." All Woody Allen fans will cherish this uproarious treasury-and those who don't enjoy The Insanity Defense are just plain crazy. "If you don't care if you break into helpless whoops of laughter on buses, trains, or wherever you happen to be reading it." -Chicago Tribune , on Without Feathers "Brilliant flights of fancy whose comic detail and inspired silliness are at once dramatic and controlled." -The New York Times, on Side Effects

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812978110
• ISBN13: 9780812978117
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Random House Trade
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

The original Funny

Contains the books: Getting Even, Without Feathers, Side Effects and more. Allen is absurd, satirical, brilliantly incisive although sometimes quite corny and sophomoric. (One must try to use big, academic, intellectual-sounding words when criticising Woody Allen.) Someone once suggested I read Dave Barry. I did and threw the magazine down in disgust at the pale, attempted imitation of prime Woody Allen.

A great writer outshines his own brilliant films

I've always loved Woody's movies but he proves with this collection that he has always been a writer first and foremost. This book is a must for any lover of intelligent comedy. There are so many brilliant stories and essays here--prose you can turn to again and again as if revisiting a favorite album. Possibly the finest, funniest collection of humorous writing ever assembled.

THOUGHT PROVOKING COMEDY

I must admit I'm a sucker for the silly side. The thing with Woody is that he'll have you laughing out loud like a fool one sentence and the next he's got you staring off into space thinking, "Yeah, yeah...that's true." Conversations with Death, the supernatural explained, the story of one man's pathetic attempt at a life of crime, and the single best description of sex I've ever read- "...executing with total emotional commitment the absurd choreography of human passion," it's all in there. I was always afraid of Woody Allen because I thought you'd have to be Jewish to get it. Rather, you'd have to be dead not to.

The touchstone for literary humor

Woody has said that his prose is influenced by two past masters--Robert Benchley and S.J. Perelman. I believe Woody has surpassed these giants and created laugh out loud prose that will last for ages. Where Perelman often loses his readers in baroque construction, Woody brings his crisp, well-honed stand-up structure to the written word. Benchley is hard to beat, and I suspect he was only beaten here because Benchley had to turn out pieces like a comedic assembly line, and Woody had the advantage of taking each piece and honing it to perfection before submission. Benchley's fingerprints are all over this work--just compare Woody's academic parodies with any of Benchley's. Do yourself a favor and read this book--you will laugh out loud. Satisfaction guaranteed.