Have you ever had a moment while reading a book when you just burst out laughing and invited stares from strangers? Of course, though, it didn't matter, because the book was like a friend, passing on an inside joke with you as the world passed by. That’s why we say that apart from a dog, books are a man’s best friend. Reading a book is always a good thing. However, finding a book that truly tickles your funny bone can be harder than you think. But here’s a general set of issues you will face in your search for the best comedy books:
The title of the book will not even seem to match the comedy genre.
The best comedy books don’t do that well.
Amazon offers recommendations, but if people can’t find them, well, what can Amazon do?
Dare to venture into uncharted territory? Worry not, because we put together a list of the funniest books out there. Be warned, however - these books will incur non-stop laughter.
People We Meet on Vacation
By: Emily Henry
Written by Emily Henry, whose famous debut Beach Read also features in this list, People We Meet on Vacation is a collection of witty banter and slow romance - tied together with creative storytelling. Poppy and Alex, best friends before their fallout, decide to come together for one final vacation to put everything on the table and settle their issues.
Before the fallout, however, the two friends (who had nothing in common except for one trip on their way home from college) would always take an annual vacation together. The book focuses on their various timelines and trips - all while developing the characters’ feelings for each other. The emotional storyline is so compelling, we cannot help but wipe our eyes as the story progresses.
Less
By: Andrew Sean Greer
Less is possibly a book that we couldn’t love more. Arthur Less, the protagonist is a failing novelist who is turning fifty, his boyfriend of nearly a decade is getting married to someone else, and he is dazed and confused about his life. To skip town, he decides to accept invitations to literary events all around the world. At its core, Less is a romantic story though it seldom pops its head up for us to notice.
Arthur finds himself in various situations that truly change his perspective - like almost dying in Berlin, accidentally booking a Christian Retreat Center in India all to himself, and getting stranded on a Desert Island in the Arabia Sea. This book takes you through a roller coaster of emotions, from tears to laughter to gratefulness.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
By: Trevor Noah
Born a Crime gives away the story in its title. Trevor Noah’s birth, fathered by a white Swiss man and a black Xhosa woman, was deemed by apartheid South Africa to be a crime. Trevor Noah, who is now the hilarious host of The Daily Show, talks about how his existence was kept hidden from the government due to great risk to his mother and family.
The autobiography follows their lives after the liberation of South Africa from apartheid, and how he grows from a mischievous young boy to a confused young man to an icon of our times. Trevor Noah tells his honest and brutal story with a kind of wit that one takes refuge in, as an outer mask to face the horrors in his daily existence. But the book gives us hope and faith in the truth that love is the greatest force on this Earth.
The Unhoneymooners
By: Christina Lauren
The Unhoneymooners is a novel that almost seems like the first draft of a rom-com. Olive, the extremely "unlucky twin" of the family, finds herself with an all-expense-covered trip to Maui when her sister Ami, her sister's fiancé, and seemingly everyone else comes down with food poisoning at their wedding.
But there’s a catch: the trip has to be taken with Ethan, the best man at the wedding - and also Olive’s worst nemesis. The unwilling pair decide to put aside their differences for this 10-day trip as they take in the beautiful sights Hawaii has to offer. But how will things turn out throughout the trip - and once they get back to their normal lives?
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
By: Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling has had a spectacular rise in the world of comedy. In this comedic compilation of chapters, Mindy offers her advice on how one can be a great best friend, a great guy, and even the right amount of fame for a star. The book makes you realize that Mindy could have been your best friend in high school with the way she guides you through this book.
Her observations about situations are hilarious and to the point, while also giving you the time to take breaks for your errands. But the book calls out to you silently to tell you more about her journey to becoming a comedy writer, the importance of family, and the need for a positive attitude. Definitely add this one to your list!
Robin
By: Dave Itzkoff
If we had to give you a reason to read this book, it is this – the book is a look into the life of Robin Williams. That itself is a testament that cannot be questioned. The novel is compiled from over a hundred original interviews with family, friends, and colleagues by David Itzkoff.
Robin offers to pull back the curtains on the life of one of the world’s funniest people - his battles with addiction and depression, and his influence on the American stand-up comedy culture. Robin Williams had a gift that so few of us possess, a gift that made people love him and made him feel more distant around the people he loved. He will always be adored and remembered by all.
Hyperbole and a Half
By: Allie Brosh
A compilation of essays and artwork on her blog along with new content, Hyperbole and a Half is a hilarious adventure. Allie Brosh, who calls herself a recluse from Bend, Oregon, uses 369 pages to entertain and educate on various topics - from writing letters to her 10-year-old daughter to speaking about depression and finding one’s identity.
Allie finds a way to take life’s most serious moments and pen them down in an unexpected, silly manner that seems too surreal. Whether you’re looking for a book for a good laugh or a novel with some serious takeaway messages, Hyperbole and a Half is a good first step.
Furiously Happy- A Funny Book About Horrible Things
By: Jenny Lawson
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Humour is the mistress of sorrow.” Jenny Lawson does the impossible when she takes a tragic path of exploring depression through the eyes of a raccoon and turns it into an enjoyable, educational path. The educational tale is filled with hysterical stories that can have you laughing at one moment and crying in the next.
Amidst all the funny, crazy stories, Jenny conveys a silent element of the depth of her understanding of depression. The book is a promise of joy underneath all the sorrow and suffering of life - and what could be a more uplifting message than that? We can't recommend this read enough.
My Sister, the Serial Killer
By: Oyinkan Braithwaite
My Sister, the Serial Killer can be well-described as Modern Noir with a gem of a story: Korede, the practical one in the family, is not happy that her beautiful, sociopathic sister Ayoola is also a serial killer with three dead boyfriends. Furthermore, it is Korede who manages to keep Ayoola from doing anything stupid that can land her in prison.
But when Ayoola starts to date Tade, the doctor at Korede's hospital where she works as a nurse, Korede must make a difficult decision: will she choose the doctor she loves or her sister, who is her family? A dark, sardonic novel with a plot that forces you to turn pages, My Sister, the Serial Killer's characters are built to occupy your mind long after you finish the book.
Based on a True Story: Not a Memoir
By: Norm Macdonald
In this hilarious read, Norm Macdonald, one of the greatest stand-up comedy artists of all time, pens down his life for the rest of us - but refuses to call it a memoir. Based on a True Story: Not a Memoir, contains a blend of facts and fiction that will have you wondering if what you read is just Norm’s way of pulling your leg.
This book can only be described as a 292-page book of fantastic entertainment from a man who influenced comedy throughout his career. Though we should mention, the book does have some questionable moments where you could end up disapproving of Norm - but we assure you that it won’t last long.
Beach Read
By: Emily Henry
Beach Read is a much-acclaimed book and winner of multiple awards and accolades. The reasons are obvious once you read the first ten pages. The book is absolute, to coin a new term: “un-put-down-able.” Social commentary, solid commonsensical wisdom, and charming romance is penned into this 384-page book. Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction, and January Andrews holds the same position in the romance genre.
Polar opposites in their behaviors and in their novels, they are set to live in neighboring beach houses - with no money and severe writer’s block. One evening, to get out of their ruts, they fix a deal to essentially swap genres and write books that no one could expect from them. However, in doing this, what changes in perspective lie in store for them?
The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee
By: Sarah Silverman
The Bedwetters: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee is written by Sarah Silverman, who is only one of the funniest female comedians of our time. Sarah holds our hands and walks us through her life, from learning to curse at 3 to wetting her bed until she could drive to losing her virginity to depression - and everything in between.
Her delivery takes no heed to being gentle with topics of religion, racism, or intimacy but can leave you cackling away. One thing is for certain, her honesty about her life and upbringing will entertain you through the mere hours it will take to devour the book. Happy reading!
Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office
By: Brian Baumgartner
If you’re reading this article, you’re likely to have come across an episode or a meme of The Office at one point or another. The show defined TV culture, and its influence was, is, and will last for generations to come. Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office is a chronological format of the development of the show - compiled from interviews with the actors, creators, producers, and more.
For die-hard Office fans, they will treasure this gift like no other. But for the uninitiated, this book offers several wild stories and surprising behind-the-scenes details that will make you curious enough to watch one episode... then the next, then the next.
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