Nothing Routine is a collection of the all-time greatest standup comedy routines. The inspiration behind this book was the idea that the most memorable of comedy routines transcend laughter. Years or even decades after they were first performed, they have proved to be precious time capsules that capture an era or an attitude or an anxiety. These routines, along with commentary by the comedians themselves and by a host industry-insiders who have watched standup history unfold, this book provide a unique look at the material that makes us laugh.

The comedians in this book comprise a virtual who's who of comedy over the past seventy-five years, and the routines gathered here represent their greatest hits. From old school greats like Lenny Bruce and Nichols & May to titans of standup like Richard Pryor and George Carlin to current stars like Sarah Silverman, Chris Rock, and David Cross.

This collection of routines and interviews is unprecedented in its scope. No doubt, some great comedy was left off the line-up, but this book is about stand up comedy routines, not comedy in general. Ultimately, the final product—Nothing Routine: Standup Comedy's Greatest Hits—is comedy as you've never seen before. Indeed, nothing routine.

The Routines: A first look.

The routines collected here represent comedy from nearly every creed, race, and place, not to mention every decade, of the past century. The chapters of the book include the routines themselves, some background, and interviews with the guilty parties. Below cult comic Louis CK (HBO's Lucky Louis) rails away about a system made to starve the weak into submission.

Louis CK: "Overdrawn at the Bank"

Louis CK in Nothing Routine: Standup Comedy's Greatest Hits

"The bank bit has grown like a pearl in an oyster shell for me. When I was first working in NYC as a comedian, things were very tight and for many years I had very little money. I think the bit on stage just began as venting frustration from the stress this caused in my life and pointing out the absurdity of the system that charges people money for not having enough money!"