The Art of Manliness

#522: What Is Wit and Why Does the World Need It?

Jul 3, 2019

James Geary, the author of "Wit's End," dives into the fascinating world of wit and improvisational intelligence. He discusses how wit extends beyond humor to encompass resourcefulness and cleverness, drawing parallels to ancient figures like Odysseus. Geary champions puns as a sophisticated form of expression rather than lowbrow humor. He highlights the essential role of improvisation, likening it to jazz and fencing, and argues for the growing need for wit in today's complex world. Tune in for insights on enhancing your own wit!

42:41

Creator website

Episode guests

James Geary

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Episode notes

Intro

3min

The Essence of Wit

10min

The Wit of Odysseus: Exploring Metis

5min

Exploring the Nuances of Wit and Improvisation

4min

The Art and Essence of Wit

24min

Exploring the Importance of Wit in Modern Culture

2min

When you think about wit, what comes to mind? Someone who's quick with a funny remark?

My guest today says that while humor is one part of wit, it's really better thought of in a broader way, as a kind of "improvisational intelligence." His name is James Geary, and he's the author of Wit's End: What Wit Is, How It Works, and Why We Need It. Today on the show, we discuss all things witty. We begin our conversation describing the nature of wit, and how it's linked to one's all-around sense of resourcefulness. James then makes the case that instead of getting our contempt, puns should actually be praised as a sophisticated form of wit. We then dig into what fencing and jazz can teach us about the role of improvisation in wit, why we need wit more than ever these days, and what you can do to start being a bit more witty.

Get the show notes at aom.is/wit.