Putting Improv to Work: Spontaneous Performance for Professional and Personal Life

by Greg Hohn

Improv is an art form in which participants act and respond in the present, trusting that each thoughtful action will lead to a wonderful outcome--even if it isn't the intended result. In this book, the principles and practices of unscripted theater are applied to non-theatrical circumstances.

This book is based on a highly successful business school course, and aids in the development of communication, teamwork, creativity, confidence, emotional intelligence and other abilities. Each chapter assesses a different component of improv--how it connects to stage success and how it can be used in professional, academic and social settings. This is the only text that lays out an entire course on applied improv, providing activities with detailed instructions and descriptions. With roots in higher education, the book is informal, entertaining, and designed to be beneficial for anybody. Behavioral science, philosophy, art and athletics are all used to inform this discussion of improv and its real-world applications.

225 pages, Paperback

Published March 11, 2022

Reviews

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful blend of improv fundamentals, life philosophy, and ready-made exercises. For those of us striving to be more present in every facet of life, the lessons here are plentiful. It was compelling to hear examples from the author's many years of teaching and performing, and I found myself laughing out loud at many observations that hit close to home. Greg Hohn exhorts us to get out of our comfort zones and helps us examine our hang-ups around self-consciousness and risk-taking. While you could argue that reading a book about improv is not on the same order as taking a class, I gained a surprising amount of insight from the individual exercises and from applying the book's take-aways in my day-to-day experience. I wasn't expecting to be so invested in this volume, but it will likely be one that I revisit often.

[Garrett]

Read this bad boy for improv class I love being a business major