Debatable Humor: Laughing Matters on the 2008 Presidential Primary Campaign

This is a careful, scientific look at the underrated role that humor plays in politics. Grounded in evolutionary principles, the author’s highly original research offers a novel perspective of contemporary U.S. politicians and parties. Anyone interested in political campaigns and personal appeal in general will find this book consistently enlightening. — Glenn Weisfeld, Wayne State University

Quietly over the past several years, a new specialty has emerged in political science on the influence of political humor in electoral politics. With Debatable Humor, Patrick Stewart establishes himself as an important voice in this new terrain―and he delivers. Drawing on evolutionary biology and social influence theory, Stewart lays out an empirically grounded, insightful case for why political humor and the nonverbal communication that accompanies it matters on the campaign trail. The insights from this innovative research show the serious side of humor and laughter in presidential politics and broaden our understanding of how candidates are perceived: not by words alone. — Erik Bucy, Associate Professor, Adjunct, Indiana University, Vice President, Research, SmithGeiger LLC; author, Image Bite Politics: News and the Visual Framing of Elections