The Best Books on Improv (Updated)

This post is a collection of the best books on improv — or improvisational theatre or improvised comedy, or improv, depending on where you are in the world. This is the ultimate list for you to start growing your improv library. It includes new books by friends and mentors and many of the classics.

Improvise Freely by Patti Stiles
Improv Beyond Rules by Adam Meggido
Truth in Comedy: The Manual for Improvisation by Charna Halpern
Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre by Keith Johnstone
Improvise.: Scene from the Inside Out by Mick Napier
Improvisation for the Theatre by Viola Spolin
Art by Committee: A Guide to Advanced Improvisation by Charna Halpern
Jill Bernard’s Small Cute Book of Improv by Jill Bernard
Improvisation for the Spirit: Live a More Creative, Spontaneous, and Courageous Life Using the Tools of Improv Comedy by Katie Goodman
Improv Wisdom: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up by Patricia Ryan Madson
Something Wonderful Right Away: An Oral History of the Second City and the Compass Players by Jeffrey Sweet
Impro for Storytellers) by Keith Johnstone
Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual by Matt Besser
The Improv Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Improvising in Comedy, Theatre, and Beyond by Tom Salinsky
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Group Improvisation: The Manual of Ensemble Improv Games by Peter Gwinn
Process: An Improviser’s Journey by Mary Scruggs and Michael Gellman
The Compass: The Improvisational Theatre that Revolutionized American Comedy by Janet Coleman
Causing a Scene: Extraordinary Pranks in Ordinary Places with Improv Everywhere by Charlie Todd
Improvising Better: A Guide for the Working Improviser by Jimmy Carrane and Liz Allen
Improv for Actors by Dan Diggles
Improvisation Starters by Philip Bernardi
How to Improvise a Full-Length Play: The Art of Spontaneous Theater by Kenn Adams
Acting on Impulse: The Art of Making Improv Theater by Carol Hazenfield
Directing Improv: Show the Way By Getting Out of the Way by Asaf Ronen
Girl Walks into a Bar . . .: Comedy Calamities, Dating Disasters, and a Midlife Miracle by Rachel Dratch
Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art by Stephen Nachmanovitch
Theater Games for Rehearsal: A Director’s Handbook by Viola Spolin
The Second City Almanac of Improvisation by Anne Libera
Improv Therapy: How to get out of your own way to become a better improviser by Jimmy Carrane
Improv Ideas 2: A New Book of Games and Lists for the Classroom and Beyond by Justine Jones
Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
An Improvised Life: A Memoir by Alan Arkin
The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You’re Not by John Vorhaus
The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom: Using Improvisation to Teach Skills and Boost Learning by Katherine S. McKnight
The Friendly Shakespeare: A Thoroughly Painless Guide to the Best of the Bard by Norrie Epstein
Improv Comedy by Andy Goldberg
Long-Form Improv: The Complete Guide to Creating Characters, Sustaining Scenes, and Performing Extraordinary Harolds by Ben Hauck
Improv Wins by Chris Trew
Play, Playfulness, Creativity and Innovation by Patrick Bateson
58 1/2 Ways to Improvise in Training: Improvisation Games and Activities for Workshops, Courses and Team Meetings by Paul Z. Jackson
Acting: The First Six Lessons by Richard Boleslavsky
How To Start Your Own Improv Comedy Group by Paul Johan Stokstad
Handbook of Recreational Games by Neva L. Boyd
Second City: Backstage At The World’s Greatest Comedy Theater by Sheldon Patinkin
Musical Improv Comedy: Creating Songs in the Moment by Jason Alexander
SCTV: Behind the Scenes by Dave Thomas
Aerodynamics of Yes by Christian Capozzoli
[The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance] by W. Timothy Gallwey
The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle by Steven Pressfield
Playful Mindfulness: a joyful journey to everyday confidence, calm, and connection by Ted Desmaisons

If you have some recommendations of other ‘best’ books on improv, please get in touch and let me know! I just might add it to the list.