Acclaimed portrait photographer Thom Gilbert turns his lens on iconic comedians, young and old, and captures the extraordinary facial expressions that usually go unnoticed beneath the wit and the punch lines. Each of the 150 photographs is a portrait of a comic at full comedic power, with the kind of expressions that make readers laugh the same way they do watching these performers live.

Gilbert is known for taking a fresh, artistic, and exciting approach to every subject he photographs. Here he offers a new look at comedy history, with portraits of classic performers that are as striking as they are funny. In his foreword, Ray Romano recalls his own start in stand-up at The Improv in New York City in 1984, performing under the borrowed name "Jackie Roberts." He writes that every comic has a story like it, and that Gilbert's collection "captures pieces of comedy history" in a way that draws readers in and keeps them wanting more.

Combining photographs and text, Hilarious is a unique book about unique people, by a world-class portrait photographer. It is a celebration of the faces behind the laughs and a gift for anyone who loves comedy, photography, or a good laugh.