Wayne Federman’s new book, “The History of Stand-Up” is out now

In September of 2018, comedian Wayne Federman and Andrew Steven started a new podcast that detailed the history of stand-up comedy, appropriately titled The History of Stand-Up. And now, Federman, who has been a part of the scene since the comedy boom in the 70’s, is taking that a step further.

Today, Federman has a new book out, also titled The History of Stand-Up. Described as covering everything from Mark Twain to Dave Chappelle, the book “chronicles the incredible evolution of this American art form – from its earliest pre-vaudeville practitioners like Artemus Ward and Mark Twain to present-day comedians of HBO and Netflix.”

“Drawing on his acclaimed History of Standup podcast and popular university lectures,” the official synopsis continues, “Wayne Federman guides us on this fascinating journey. The story has a connective tissue – humans standing on stage, alone, trying to get laughs. That experience connects all stand-ups through time, whether it’s at The Palace Theater, the Copacabana, the Apollo, Mister Kelly’s, the hungry i, the Improv, the Comedy Store, Madison Square Garden, UCB, or at an open mic in a backyard.”

As an author, Federman has previously published Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete. And in addition to his work as a comedian, he has made appearances in various film and television shows over the years, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Legally Blonde, Knocked Up, Step Brothers, The 40‐Year‐Old Virgin, 50 First Dates, Funny People, Silicon Valley, Shameless, The Larry Sanders Show, Community, Crashing, and The X-Files.

The History of Stand-Up can be purchased here.