The Groan-Up Guide: Why Dad Jokes Are The Ultimate Act Of Love

Get ready to embrace the “pun-ishment.” Just in time for Father’s Day, author Bart King is pulling back the curtain on the world’s most simultaneously loathed and beloved comedic art form with his new book, Father Humor: Mastering the Art of the Dad Joke. Far from being just for fathers, Bart argues that the “Dad Joke” lifestyle is a tool for everyone to encourage creative thinking and break the ice in any situation.

In this “family friendly, not pun-ographic” guide, King breaks down the taxonomy of wordplay, the history of famous punsters, and the crucial skill of pretending you’re sorry for a joke even when you aren’t. According to Bart, a great Dad joke is really just an affirmation of love—a way of saying, “I care so much about you, I’m willing to take time to torture you with my so-called humor”. We sat down with the master of the pun to learn how to properly deliver a joke that will, at the very least, entertain you. —Noa Nichol

The Torture Metric: You mention that a Dad joke is a way of saying, “I care so much about you, I’m willing to take time to torture you with my so-called humor”. On a scale of one to “Dad, please stop,” what is the most successful reaction a punster can hope for?

Excellent reactions to a dad joke include loud groans, and disgusted exclamations of “Da-ad! Geez.” (Two bonus points if you’re not their dad.)

But the most successful reaction to a joke would be outraged cries of betrayal, followed by credible threats of violence. (Or laughter. Laughter is good!)

The Theoretically Entertaining: Your book claims these jokes can “theoretically entertain people”. If the audience isn’t laughing, but the Dad is, does the joke still count as a win according to your “taxonomy of wordplay”?

Never mind the audience! The key is that you enjoy yourself. It’s your enjoyment that will drive your audience berserk with love and rage. A Dad joke doesn’t need to be laughed at by others to elicit admi­ration. (This is what I tell myself, anyway.) It might elicit tight-lipped agony in a dead silence where you can hear a pun drop. That reaction is a dad joker’s version of a standing ovation—and that’s a win.

The “Sorry Not Sorry” Technique: You teach readers how to “pretend you’re sorry” for a joke even when you aren’t. What is the secret to the perfect fake apology—is it all in the delivery, or do you need a specific type of shrug?

Depending on whether you have a conscience, your jokes may fill you with real or imaginary grief. The quickest way to express your remorse is simply to flee the scene of the crime. But if you decide to stick around, remind your audience that there are proven social and health benefits to sharing humor! And if they want to know what those benefits are, say, “The look on your face just now.”

No Puns-ographic Content: You’ve issued a PSA that this book is “family friendly, not pun-ographic”. Was it difficult to keep things “G-rated” when the puns started getting out of hand?

Short answer: Yes. Longer answer: But since Dad jokes are inclusive, appropriate, and non-offensive, can’t be religious or political, and rarely have any refer­ence to death or violence, that makes it easier. While double entendres need not apply, but once in a while, a PG-13 pun can qualify. For example, two soles wanted to go sightseeing, so they swam to the surface of the water and looked up, where they saw a pair of eagles flying overhead. The eagles (with their eagle-eyes) also saw the soles.

“Ah, eagles!” said the soles, making rude gestures with their fins before diving before the birds could catch them.

One eagle murmured, “Ah, soles.”

The Universal Dad: You believe “Dad Jokes” should be practiced by everyone, regardless of gender or family status. If a person has no kids but has mastered the “hi Hungry, I’m Dad” bit, are they officially a “Dad” in your eyes?

Yes, but like Mom jeans, Dad jokes are not gender-normative. People of all ages and gender identities can and do use them. Kids can make Dad jokes, too. And heck, the Dad joke doesn’t even rank that high in the Hierarchy of Family Humor:

❺ Dad joke

❹ Grandma bon mot

❸ Cousin quip

❷ Uncle wisecrack

❶ Mother-in-law one-liner

Pre-Loaded Puns: The book includes “quality pre-loaded puns”. If a Dad uses one of yours and it actually gets a laugh instead of a groan, do they owe you a royalty fee or just a firm handshake?

Neither. They earn my grudging respect, as their delivery is clearly superior to mine!

Historical Heroes: You highlight famous punsters in history. If William Shakespeare and a modern suburban Dad walked into a bar, who would walk out with the “Master of Pun-ishment” title?

I think it’s likely that they would buy each other root beers and enjoy each other’s company. But if they were forced into a verbal duel, Shakespeare would probably say something like “I do desire we may be better strangers” and walk out to applause.

Breaking the Ice: You say these jokes can “break the ice”. Have you ever seen a Dad joke actually thaw a tense situation, or does it usually just make everyone want to leave the room faster?

The beauty of a dad joke in a tense situation is that it unites the roomful of people … against you. (Be strong!)

The Price of Puns: At $18.99, your book is the perfect gift for the Dad who needs help in the joke department. Can a Dad write this off as a “continuing education” expense for his career in torturing his family?

Our legal counsel assures us that readers can behave like Sherlock Holmes in this tax matter and be masters of deduction.