Anyone can do improvisational comedy — all you need is a sense of humor and a touch of fearlessness. The Immediate Gratification Players have been improvising at Harvard University since 1986, and in this book, they show you how to do it, too.

From honing the skills of the craft to presenting your comedy onstage, this book takes you through every step of the process on your journey from improv nobody to improv hero. Topics discussed include mastering an improv scene, nailing an audition, and, eventually, storming the stage. You will even learn how to make an improv troupe from scratch.

The Immediate Gratification Players have created the only book about improvisational comedy aimed directly at students — written from a students’ perspective. The book also features a foreword by comedian Sarah Haskins and an afterword by writer/director Nicholas Stoller, both graduates of the troupe.

With a hilarious outlook and a treasure trove of tips and techniques, this book will make you laugh as much as you learn. So give improv a try — no experience necessary.