"Jokes, paradoxes, riddles, and the art of non-sequitur are revealed with great perception and insight in this illuminating account of the relationship between humor and mathematics." — Joseph Williams, New York Times 'Leave your mind alone,' said a Thurber cartoon, and a really complete and convincing analysis of what humour is might spoil all jokes forever. This book avoids that danger. What it does. . .is describe broadly several kinds of mathematical theory and apply them to throw sidelights on how many kinds of jokes work." — New Scientist

"Many scholars nowadays write seriously about the ludicrous. Some merely manage to be dull. A few — like Paulos — are brilliant in an odd endeavor." — Los Angeles Times Book Review