Comedians who have given up on cleverness of language, substituting instead large doses of toilet humor to get laughs should take the time to read “Groucho: The Life and Times of Julius Henry Marx,” written by Stefan Kanfer and published by Alfred Knopf of New York.

If they do, they will be treated to hundreds of timeless jokes in this 450-page work (One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I don?t know), but more importantly, they will get a glimpse of how comedy?as social commentary?can be more powerful than any government.

They will also learn that the life of a comedian isn?t all jokes.

The 450-page book is told chronologically for the most part, which can be death for biographies. But Groucho led such an interesting life (if sometimes tragic) that any section of the book lends itself to close examination.

Groucho was arguably the most famous of the Marx Brothers, although in later life Harpo?s frizzy hair became almost equally well-known.

Generations of people are familiar with the brothers? films such as “Duck Soup, Monkey Business” and “A Night at the Opera,” while many baby boomers remember Groucho?s outrageous comments as a quiz show host on “You Bet Your Life,” in the 1950s.

Groucho pushed the bounds of television, vaulting past network censors with dry-witted jokes that seemed beyond the censors? recognition.

In one memorable program Groucho admonished a woman who had ten children, who said she had so many children because she loved her husband. “I love my cigar, but I take it out of my mouth once in awhile,” he quipped.

His comment was excised by the director, but made it into newspaper columns and remains one of his most memorable lines.

While the book details out the comedic triumphs of Groucho, it also goes into great depth about Groucho?s upbringing, how he survived many sad times and ultimately his legacy and legal (and family) problems at the end of his life.

Groucho will not make most readers admire Julius Henry Marx for his personal life and dealings, but it?s a fascinating snapshot of life in the U.S. during the first half of the century.

Author Kanfer is a writer in residence at the City University of New York and is a former writer and editor at Time magazine.

Kanfer other books include “The Eighth Sin,” “A Summer World,” “The Last Empire” and “Serious Business.”

Groucho is recommended reading and is located on the browsing shelf of the CSU, Sacramento Library.