Collected pieces that explore the sly side of persuasion, where humor, irony and clever misdirection reveal human foibles. Selections range from brief comic sketches to pointed essays that probe how people bend rules to get what they want.

Contributors include celebrated humorists such as Woody Allen, James Thurber, S.J. Perelman, Groucho Marx, Mark Twain, Russell Baker and Dorothy Parker. Their voices move between playful absurdity, dry satire and sharp observation, offering a wide view of 20th‑century comic writing.

Perfect for readers who enjoy economical, witty prose and historical comic voices, this Chronicle Books paperback highlights craft, timing and the lighter side of social manipulation.

• Short essays and sketches
• Classic comic voices
• Chronicle Books paperback

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