If you’re just getting into the world of improv, taking your first classes, or want to solidify your ideas before launching your troupe, you’ll want a book to harden your knowledge. Perhaps the list on this site is a bit overwhelming, and you don’t know where to start. So, let’s put together a quick list of 12 books to check out to lay the foundation for your improv. They’re written for people new to improv, without taking anything for granted. Most are in English, but it’s worth it. Are you satisfied with the list? Would you add or remove any?

This quarter we noticed few new releases, however, there was some activity in the improv book sector. We’ve added just three new titles to the improv bookstore (and updated a few editions). Colombian improviser Gigio Giraldo brings us Canovaccio, and we’d also like to mention that there was a crowdfunding campaign in Brazil (now closed) for the launch of the book Improvisaçao Descomplicada by Luiz Felipe Martins. If you’ve read them, leave a comment with your opinion, and if you know of any interesting titles that are missing (or that you’re going to publish), share them here so everyone knows. New release this quarter: Canovaccio (Gigio Giraldo) Based on historical research and the author’s practical experience, this book reflects on and compiles the available knowledge about the different ways of approaching learning and performing improvisation. It also provides a brief overview of the history of improv in Colombia. New to the list: The following have also been added to the list of improv books:

The start of the year is a good time to reflect. In this case, I decided to look at the new publishing releases brought on by the 2020 pandemic. It was noticeable that there was a surge in improv books in subsequent years, fueled by the time of confinement and reflection. Some companies had to shut down, and this gave their members time to pause and put their perspectives and way of living and teaching improv into writing. This quarter, we didn’t see any new publishing releases, so we’re reviving an essay published in 2024. In addition, 11 new titles have been added to the improv library, among which applied improvisation stands out, especially in the medical field. If you’ve read them, leave a comment with your opinion, and if you know of an interesting title that’s missing (or that you’re going to publish), please comment here so everyone knows about it. Starred release: Improvisation Libre! (Samuel Berger) French improviser Samuel Berger, a member of Les Intermédiaires, has toured numerous cities (Paris, Toulouse, Leipzig) and worked in various types of improv and cabaret shows. He has been writing for some time about his vision of improvisation. In this essay, published…

Closing out 2024, there were no new editorial releases this quarter, but we are bringing back one that we missed in September: Fifty Key Improv Performers, by Matt Fotis. In addition, eight new titles have been added to the improv library, covering the basics of short-form improv, improv applied to work, some improv applied to life, and a journalistic work on The Improv club in New York. If you have read them, leave a comment with your opinion. If you know of any interesting titles that are missing, comment on them to complete the list. Novedad del trimestre: This book traces the history of improv (and not just in the English language) through fifty key figures such as Viola Spolin and Keith Johnstone, as well as different companies from around the world that have been key figures and are worth knowing. An essential book to learn about the history of improv, where it comes from and who the people who have built its past and present have been. News on the list: In addition, the following have been added to the list of improv books:

This quarter we stopped to see Randy Fertel’s new book: Winging It. In addition, seven new titles have been added to the impro library. If you have read them, leave a comment with your opinion, if you know of any interesting titles that are missing, comment on them to complete the list. New book this quarter:  Winging It (Randy Fertel) This is a continuation of his first book on creativity in the history of artistic creation, but this time it is an essay very close to the current times of artificial intelligence and fake news. New to the list: In addition, the following have been added to the list of impro books:

This quarter, Feña returns with his reflections on impro in terms of football. In addition, seven new titles have been added to the improv library. If you have read them, leave a comment with your opinion; if you know of any interesting titles that are missing, please comment to complete the list. New this quarter: IMPRO Dinámica de lo impensado II (Feña Ortalli) Feña continues his reflections on football and improv in this new volume that compiles brief essays. It can be purchased through his website where you can read a preview. New on the list: In addition, the following have been added to the list of impro books. Mainly books on theatrical play and by Argentine authors.

This quarter no books have been presented, but we have added many new ones to the list, and we rescued one recently published. New this quarter: Last year, the Argentinian improviser Paula Farías presented her “Manual de clases”, an eminently practical guide for putting together twelve sessions of improvisation classes (for both online and in-person modality). A self-edition now available in easy-access digital format, you must contact the author for an edition in physical format. Nuevos en el listado: In addition, the following have been added to the list of improv books. Mainly books about theatrical play and by Argentine authors.

The improv book catalog on this website currently has 210 titles, of which 44 are available in Spanish and the main part are available in English with 165 titles. There are also 10 titles in Portuguese (mainly Brazilian), 9 in French and 3 in Italian. Obviously these figures overlap because there are many titles that have been translated from their original edition into other languages. And we know that there are still many books we have to continue incorporating and classifying, especially in French and other languages outside of those mentioned above. Any suggestions to add to this bibliography of improv books are welcome. This month, the work has been to translate all the information already available into English, so that more people can access this bibliographic compendium, trying to create the best resource to find impro books. If you are reading this in English you just have to browse, in case you are reading this in another language, you can switch to English in the top bar. And for the future, there is a lot of classification work pending, to be able to highlight the best titles in each area of knowledge, either because you want to improve your…

Applied improv is the branch of theatrical improvisation that tries to apply its principles and mechanisms to other areas such as work, teaching or life.

We close the year, we close the quarter and we look back to review the new improv books that we have added to the list. We have not detected any release, so we stopped to see the latest work by Alexis Díaz-Pimienta. If we have missed a new improv book, leave it in the comments. Quarter editorial novelties: The work of the Cuban repentista Alexis Díaz-Pimienta is extensive, important are his academic books on improvisation of “decimas”. This book, made for the National Autonomous University of Mexico, is available for free download. New additions to the improv book list Additionally, the following have been added to the list of improv books: