Collection: Try and Stop Me

Overview
Try and Stop Me is a lively anthology of jokes, anecdotes, one-liners and short humorous sketches compiled and presented by Bennett Cerf. The collection captures the quick wit and conversational flair that made Cerf a recognizable figure in mid-20th-century American humor. Its brisk entries are designed for immediate amusement, making the book a perennial bedside or coffee-table companion.

Content and Style
The book strings together brief items ranging from pithy one-liners and barbed quips to longer amusing tales that hinge on irony or character. Cerf's editorial voice is urbane and slightly mischievous: he arranges material so that each turn of the page delivers a fresh laugh or a sly observation. The language is plain and direct, favoring clarity and timing over literary ornament, which keeps the humor accessible to a wide audience.

Themes and Tone
Lightness and conviviality are the dominant tones throughout. Many items play on everyday situations, marriage, work, social pretension, human folly, and much of the humor comes from a keen ear for conversational contradiction and comic understatement. While mostly apolitical and timeless in its setups, the collection sometimes reflects the sensibilities and cultural references of its era, giving readers a glimpse of what mid-century Americans found amusing.

Structure and Pacing
Entries are kept deliberately short, allowing readers to dip in and out without committing to chapters or long arcs. That compact structure produces a steady rhythm of jokes and anecdotes that build momentum without wearing out their welcome. The pacing makes the book suited to casual reading, party recitations or the quick relief of a laugh amid a busy day.

Historical Context and Reception
Published in the mid-1940s, the collection found an audience hungry for buoyant entertainment during and after a difficult period. Its popularity reinforced Bennett Cerf's reputation not only as a major figure in publishing but also as a tastemaker for popular humor. The book did well among readers who appreciated light diversion and an editor's hand in curating a lively assortment of comedic material.

Legacy and Appeal
Try and Stop Me stands as a snapshot of a certain comic sensibility: polished, urbane and economical. It influenced later anthologies by demonstrating how a compiler's voice can knit disparate jokes into a cohesive reading experience. For modern readers, the book offers both immediate laughs and a taste of mid-20th-century social humor, making it worthwhile for those interested in the history of popular wit as well as anyone seeking a reliably amusing collection.