Recommend a book!

 I have this intern from France  who is leaving in a couple of days and would like to buy her gift,  a book, probably on  arhitecturare or New York history. Normally one could ask for recommendations from one's followers. Wonder if any of the hundred bots visiting my site  from Hong Kong would offer a recommendation...

Cranes

 

 

Ridi, Pagliaccio

I am trying my hand at stand up comedy.  My first open mic was a failure, maybe because the audience was under thirty. Or more likely because I was not funny. The only laugh I got was when I wondered if comics have success in love.

Not sure who is supposed to laugh, the audience or the Pagliacci.

Addendum:

I ran this text by Perplexity and Gemini.

Perplexity offered serious advice on stand-up for beginners.

Gemini understood the drama and the doubts, but recommended I use the Joker from Batman to match the audience's  cultural ....