Nudge

Prof Wiseman: “My (Failed) Search for the World's Funniest Joke”

May 11, 2026·24 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Professor Richard Wiseman searched for the world’s funniest joke.  He found it.  But it wasn’t what he expected.  --- Richard’s book Quirkology: https://amzn.to/4shYOJ6  Richard’s book 59 Seconds: https://amzn.to/3Pf9pWI  Richard’s SubStack: https://richardwiseman.substack.com/  Join 11,934 readers of the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Unlock the Nudge Vaults: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew/  --- Today’s sources:  Asch, S. E. (1955). Opinions and social pressure. Scientific American, 193(5), 31–35. Crum, A. J., & Langer, E. J. (2007). Mind-set matters: Exercise and the placebo effect. Psychological Science, 18, 165–171. Wiseman, R. (2009). 59 seconds: Think a little, change a lot. Knopf. Wolff, H. A., Smith, C. E., & Murray, H. A. (1934). The psychology of humor: I. A study of responses to race-disparagement jokes. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 28, 345–365.

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