Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training
Doni Tamblyn
(AMACOM; November 14, 2002 ISBN: 0-8144-0745-5)

In Laugh and Learn, author Doni Tamblyn draws on her experience working with Fortune 500 clients such as Chevron Corp. and Wells Fargo Bank to show how teachers and training professionals can inject elements of emotion, humor and creativity into their programs to spark engagement and understanding in their classes and training sessions. Laugh and Learn features dozens of exercises and thought-provoking
games, as well as a special One-A-Day Plan to help trainers boost their own Humor Quotient. Filled with ideas, tips, and valuable information, Laugh and Learn helps trainers foster a sense of intrinsic motivation
in learners and encourage personal involvement with the material. More online here

Reviewed for Improvinbiz by Cathy McNally

Training to Imagine
Kat Koppett Stylus Publishing (2001)

From the book jacket: “This book is the first to apply
the improv methodologies for the theater to developing
the business skills that are in high demand. Koppett demonstrates to trainers and managers how they can effectively transfer improv training techniques to their day-day business environment. The book translates the theories and exercises into straightforward and practical guidelines and training activities, and assumes no prior experience with improvisation or performing.”

Kat Koppett is co-founder of StoryNet, a consultancy built around the use of storytelling in training. She is also Corporate Division Director of Bay Area Theatersports. ISBN 1-57922-033-9

Reviewed for Improvinbiz by Cathy McNally

"Free Publicity" by Jeff Crilley
(Charisma Press 2002)
From author's Web site: "A start-to-finish publicity guide written by a working journalist instead of a PR person. Jeff Crilley, an Emmy Award winning reporter, shares secrets from inside a newsroom that even some
PR pros don't know. Jeff Crilley is an Emmy Award winning reporter whose work has aired nationally on The Fox News Channel, CNN, The CBS Early Show, Good Morning America, The Discovery Channel and Court TV. He's been beating the streets as a reporter for more than two decades and is a popular speaker on the subject of Free Publicity."
Can be found at amazon.com, jeffcrilley.com or any bookstore.
ISBN 0972647406

Reviewed for Improvinbiz by Maxine Shapiro

Orchestrating Collaboration at Work: Using Music, Improv, Storytelling, and Other Arts to Improve Teamwork
Arthur B VanGundy and Linda Naiman (Wiley/Jossey-Bass 2003)

"Orchestrating Collaboration at Work examines what business can learn from the arts, through interviews, case-studies and activities. This unprecedented work includes 70 activities honed from art forms such as drawing, improvisational theater, music, painting, poetry, and storytelling, to help you, your team and your entire organization achieve and maintain optimum team performance." More online here

Have you been in a situation in which you have to create something out of nothing – on the spot and under enormous pressure? Where you have nothing rely on but a small group of colleagues? The Flexible Thinker by Michael Rosenberg, uses improvisational principles to help you or your team overcome the obstacles to becoming more creative and flexible.
Michael is a 2002 and 2003 AAIB presenter. The ISBN number is 0-9662511-0-5 The price is $14.95 U.S. or $19.95 Canadian.
Learn more www.flexiblethinker.com

"Improvise This! How To Think On Your Feet So You Don't Fall On Your Face" (Hyperion, 2002).

According to the book jacket, the authors, Mark Bergren, Molly Cox, and Jim Detmar “explain how improvisation comes into play in our daily lives and the rewards of taking risks in those situations. They show how to ignite the creative spark, break repetitive habits and talk so others will know you’re listening. They give suggestions for building a dynamic group environment and for encouraging others to think outside the box.” Listed on 800 CEO READ's top 25 business titles twice over the past 9 months ISBN number is 0-7868-6774-4 "Improvise This!” is available at Amazon.com, BN.com, or in bookstores. www.outofthebluecreative.com.

(1999 Punchline Publications)
A book about humor and laughter for the general reader who is interested in what makes people laugh. It describes the levels of comedy, the laws and conditions of laughter, the anatomy of a joke, and how humor differs from person to person. For anyone who wants to add more humor to their life, whether professionally or socially.

Author Stevie Ray is the only person in the country to hold an actual college degree in Theory and Performance of Comedy, a self-designed major from a Minnesota University. He founded and directs the Stevie Ray's Improv Theatre Company, teaching and performing comedy and improv for over 20 years. He has toured the country as an entertainer and corporate trainer. ISBN 0-9671786-0-6

Viola Spolin

Viola Spolin's books and tapes available at www.spolin.com/products.html

Spolin's books are available many places, but on the above link you can find the following tapes and CD's produced by Spolin expert Gary Schwartz.

Viola Spolin Conducts Theater Games: A video with teacher's guide. The only videotape of Spolin actually presenting her own work, assisted by Gary Schwartz.

SPACEWALKS: An audio tape or CD of Viola Spolin conducting Spacewalk exercises.

A new CD of Spolin's exercises for the classroom with an interactive format that makes selecting games for any application easy.

A CR featuring a conversation with actress Valerie Harper on Viola Spolin and the early days of Second City.

"Excursions Into the Intuitive," a volume of Poetry by Viola Spolin