# Impro by Keith Johnstone

5 Hacker News commenters recommended Impro by Keith Johnstone and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended for building spontaneous social connection, understanding power dynamics, and acting practice, with many exercises. No recurring criticism appears in the quotes.

## Why people recommend it

- Insight into social and power dynamics (2 comments): "the social engagement practices in improv games have done more for me in being able to spontaneously respond and connect with others" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49368213)) "I have yet to find another source that can describe the power dynamics (also in life) as succintly as he can." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46944697))
- Strong personal endorsements from readers (2 comments): "my favorite book on acting and improvisation, with tons of brilliant exercises" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49146969)) "Can't recommend it highly enough." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45841371))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [The Creative Act by Rick Rubin](https://hackerapproved.com/p/creative-act.md): 6 recommend
- [The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron](https://hackerapproved.com/p/artist-s-way.md): 5 recommend
- [Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland](https://hackerapproved.com/p/art-fear.md): 4 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0571109896?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780571109890) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Impro by Keith Johnstone", https://hackerapproved.com/p/impro/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).