Reading Group Guide

The Haunted Smile: The Story of Jewish Comedians in America. Lawrence J. Epstein. $27.50. Hardcover. ISBN: 1-891620-71-1. PublicAffairs.

  
 

 

 

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why were so many Jews attracted to comedy?
  2. Why did Americans find Jewish comedians so funny?
  3. Who is your favorite comedian? Why?
  4. What special problems did Jewish comedians have to overcome?
  5. Why did Jewish women comedians have such a difficult road to acceptance?
  6. How does the life and career of your favorite comedians reflect the age in which those comedians lived?
  7. Why do people like humor? What does it add to life?
    8. What was your favorite joke or routine?
  
 

 

[Main] [How to Buy the Book] [Comments and Reviews] [Links] [Excerpt]
[Tour Schedule] [About the Author] [Reading Group Guide] [Updates]

© 2001 Lawrence J. Epstein. All Rights Reserved