The Reading List
The books, podcasts, and research behind these ideas — from improv's foundational texts to cognitive science. Organized by where to start.
Start here
If you read nothing else, read these. Each one shaped how improv is taught today.
**Charna Halpern, Del Close, Kim "Howard" Johnson.
**Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh.
Go deeper
Advanced texts, alternative traditions, and the life-beyond-stage perspective.
**TJ Jagodowski & Dave Pasquesi.
The teachers
Ongoing writing from practitioners who think seriously about the craft.
**Jimmy Carrane.
The science
Academic sources that ground the laws in cognitive science and performance studies.
**Daniel Kahneman.
**Anne Bogart & Tina Landau.
**Sanford Meisner & Dennis Longwell.