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Non Improv Books we've used
This list contains books that have seemingly nothing to do with improv, but we have definitely used principles found in them to improv our performance. If you want straight forward improv stuff, these won't get you there, but these are all great books.
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Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting
- This is a great book! It gets really in depth on how to create a solid story, tying the elements of story into character, locations, theme, and more. Obviously, it's written for screenwriters, but I still find it a valuable tool.
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Screenplay : The Foundations of Screenwriting
- This is considered one of the standard reads for screenwriting. The author is generally credited with establishing the 3-act structure. This book helps give an understanding of pacing in a scene (or longform) and how to structure stories to maintain interest.
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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - This very famous book offers excellent insight into how to get the most out of what you do, and how to interact with others for maximum effect - two very nice skills for an improvisor. I definitely recommend this for anyone running a group (or any other organization, for that matter).
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A Book of Five Rings - One of the ultimate books on strategy. If MBAs can use it for business, why can't improvisors use it for improv? Be forewarned: As awesome as this book is, it's a tough read, and it requires a lot of thinking on the reader's part.
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Zen in the Martial Arts - A great little book. This book is a series of 1 to 3 page stories about the author's experiences in the martial arts, and what he learned from them. These lessons can applied to any form of learning and training.
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