The publication date has been confirmed for Robin Ince's new book. I'm a Joke and So Are You: A Comedian's Take on What Makes Us Human will be published by Atlantic Books in hardback on October 4. 

Ince says that the book was prompted by a moment when he was stuck on a train platform in rural Northumberland, swearing maniacally, punching his own leg, vowing never to do stand-up again. He was a successful stand-up comedian.  Was he having an existential crisis? He didn't know. But he wanted to find out.

His book charts his journey to discover why he's made the choices he did in life, and what makes us who we are. Why did Robin become a comedian? Why are we like we are? Informed by interviews with comedians such as Jo Brand, Ricky Gervais and Tim Minchin, as well as with neuroscientists, psychologists and doctors, Ince looks back on his life and turns his comedic observational skills on himself - exploring the key psychological questions we all ask ourselves. How does our childhood shape our life choices? Do we all have a need to perform? Are we more than our brains? Is failing good for us? Is it our parents' fault?

I'm a Joke and So Are You: A Comedian's Take on What Makes Us Human is available to pre-order here.