How About Never-Is Never Good for You?: My Life in Cartoons

From Barnes & Noble

If the title sounds familiar to you, it is because it derives from one of the author's cartoons, the most widely reprinted drawing in New Yorker history. Bob Mankoff's abundantly illustrated new book is as wry, witty, and entertaining as the cartoons that made him one of the most popular illustrators in the magazine's history, but it can hardly be called an autobiography, at least in the conventional sense. Mankoff is too free-spirited and generous not to share space with fellow cartoon artists. He also writes candidly about the entire process of successfully creating captioned pictures that pack a surprise twist or an extra punch.

The New York Times Book Review - Bruce Handy

The New York Times - Janet Maslin

Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

"Mankoff’s deep understanding of humor, both its power and its practice, is the live wire that crackles through his new book . . . How About Never is more than a memoir . . . it’s also an enormous window into the mystery and alchemy behind the creation and selection of New Yorker cartoons." —The Washington Post

"Evidence that the New Yorker’s cartoons can still unerringly reflect the texture of our times." —The Wall Street Journal

"This is a generous book, giving abundant credit to both the older generation of cartoonists whom the young Mr. Mankoff hero-worshiped to the new blood he has brought to the magazine during his tenure."—Janet Maslin, The New York Times

"By mixing his snappy-banter writing with actual New Yorker cartoons, Mankoff offers fascinating insight into the professional trials and artistic struggles of a cartoonist—and his own method of defining what, precisely, makes a New Yorker cartoon." —Entertainment Weekly

"Hilarious and insightful."—BookPage

"How About Never serves up not only a mini-collection of great cartoons but also a look at the shift in styles through the editorships of legendary William Shawn, Tina Brown, and current editor David Remnick. Mankoff also provides a very funny and insightful look at how to win The New Yorker caption contest. . . A must read for devotees of the magazine." –Publishers Weekly

"Fascinating . . . Mankoff offers a number of tips on the ‘intelligent humor’ that makes it into the New Yorker—and even how to better your odds in the weekly caption process . . . Those who aspire to a career drawing for the New Yorker will find this essential reading."—Kirkus

"[Mankoff] delivers a witty and informative behind-the-scenes look at contemporary America media’s most prominent home for great cartooning. Anyone who turns to the cartoons as soon as they get a new issue will devour this delightful book with relish." —Shelf Awareness

"Bob Mankoff’s fascinating, forthright, and funny book provides an inside look at the nuts and bolts of New Yorker cartoons: how the artists come up with ideas, how the cartoons are selected, the workings of the famous Caption Contest, and much more. Mankoff also writes with first-hand knowledge about the topic of laughter itself. He dares to ask the question, ‘What makes something funny?’, and answers it with intelligence, originality, and, of course, humor."—Roz Chast

"Is Bob Mankoff mad, a genius, or a mad genius? This book does not answer that question, but you'll love it."—Andy Borowitz

"More than anyone, Bob Mankoff has kept the New Yorker tradition in cartooning alive, while managing to oversee its renewal. He's also a very funny guy, with either a stipple-pen in his hand or a computer　keyboard beneath his fingers. And, if that's not enough, he's one of the few funny guys around who actually has something sensible to say about what makes funny funny and he does so here." —Adam Gopnik

"Hilarious... a unique look at how the best cartoons in the world are created." —Christopher Guest

From the Publisher

"Fascinating . . . Mankoff offers a number of tips on the ‘intelligent humor’ that makes it into the New Yorker—and even how to better your odds in the weekly caption process . . . Those who aspire to a career drawing for the New Yorker will find this essential reading."—Kirkus

"Bob Mankoff’s fascinating, forthright, and funny book provides an inside look at the nuts and bolts of New Yorker cartoons: how the artists come up with ideas, how the cartoons are selected, the workings of the famous Caption Contest, and much more. Mankoff also writes with first-hand knowledge about the topic of laughter itself. He dares to ask the question, ‘What makes something funny?’, and answers it with intelligence, originality, and, of course, humor."—Roz Chast

"Is Bob Mankoff mad, a genius, or a mad genius? This book does not answer that question, but you'll love it."—Andy Borowitz

"More than anyone, Bob Mankoff has kept the New Yorker tradition in cartooning alive, while managing to oversee its renewal. He's also a very funny guy, with either a stipple-pen in his hand or a computer　keyboard beneath his fingers. And, if that's not enough, he's one of the few funny guys around who actually has something sensible to say about what makes funny funny and he does so here." —Adam Gopnik

"Hilarious... a unique look at how the best cartoons in the world are created." —Christopher Guest

Kirkus Reviews