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.
Drunk on All Your Strange New Words
By: Eddie Robson
In a setting where the people of Earth deal with alien diplomats to maintain the peace of the galaxy, Drunk on All Your Strange New Words is a refreshing take on what it means to be a really good sci-fi novel. The book’s protagonist is Lydia, a translator for the Logi cultural attaché to Earth.
While she is not the best in the agency, she loves this job more than anything, and she does good work, even if it leaves her drunk by the end of each session. But things cannot remain the same, as she finds herself falling in the middle of an intergalactic tragedy, and she is the only one capable of getting to the bottom of it.
Idiots: Marriage, Motherhood, Milk & Mistakes
By: Laura Clery
A second masterpiece from the critically acclaimed comedy writer Laura Clery, Idiots: Marriage, Motherhood, Milk & Mistakes is a collection of essays that have her exploring motherhood, the job of raising children, and finding any semblance of work-life balance in her career.
Get ready for a hilarious read, because Laura’s become funnier than what we know from her first novel. But in the midst of the hilarity, there’s a vulnerable side of her that is afraid to fail but gets back up when it does eventually happen. Without a doubt, this book is not for the faint-hearted.
Peterdown: An epic social satire, full of comedy, character and anarchic radicalism
By: David Annand
There are many novels that follow a predictable route to find order from chaos within their pages, but few match the originality that Peterdown: An epic social satire, full of comedy, character and anarchic radicalism captures inside it. Excited by the opportunity for economic development, the town of Peterdown must decide on which of their two landmarks must be demolished – the Larkspur Hill housing estate or the Chapel.
When Ellie Ferguson and her partner Colin face opposing sides trying to save the landmark of their interest, we are taken down a rich set of conspiracies, incidents and comedic radicalism that is sure to keep you reading till you finish it.
Start Without Me
By: Gary Janetti
Gary Janetti is a man with a reputation for an acid tongue – set to define the moments and times that made him the celebrity he is today. Start Without Me is relatable to the reader because of the frustrations of life’s smallest faults and frustrations.
Join in for a laugh as he walks you through stories of his summer vacations, incidents at his Catholic school and his love for soap operas. This book isn’t super long, but you will not be able to finish reading it because you’ll stop at every page for a minute of heartfelt laughter.
Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation
By: Hannah Gadsby
Authored by Hannah Gadsby from the iconic show Nanette, Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation pulls back the curtain on her otherworldly fame to show us the grind. A queer person from Tasmania struggling with ADHD and autism, she’s had it anything but easy. There’s some hilarious comedy in this book, but also some incredible sadness.
This is why everyone should read this book – her life is a guide to having faith in a better future. We could go on and on, but it really wouldn’t be enough to express how good this book is. We’re sure it will leave a lasting personal impact.
Happy-Go-Lucky
By: David Sedaris
David Sedaris is known as the “champion storyteller”. Happy-Go-Lucky was born in a time of uncertainty during the pandemic – a time where he’s stuck without being able to tour and do the work he loves. So how does he cope? By vacuuming his apartment twice a day, failing to get essentials while everyone else gets it, walking through a deserted city and wondering how sex workers and acupuncturists get by during quarantine.
Does the experience change him? You’ll have to read the book to find out. The book is incredibly heart-warming, and you won’t even realize that you’ve finished reading it in one sitting.
The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen
By: Hendrik Groen
Hendrik Groen lives in a care home, but that doesn’t mean he’s lost any of his sarcasm. He also hasn’t lost his caring, thoughtful nature, as you can read from The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen – a documentation of a year in his life at the care home in Amsterdam.
At the age of 83, there are still a lot of ups and downs in life – as shown by his experiences with his new endeavor – the Old-But-Not-Dead Club. There’s an incredible amount of charm this man maintains through his thoughts – and there isn’t a better gift for you than this book.
I'd Like to Play Alone, Please: Essays
By: Tom Segura
There are comedy books, and then there are comedy books written by comic legends. Written by Tom Segura, I’d Like to Play Alone, Please: Essays is a compilation of all the jokes he never said onstage. But there’s something in between the laughs that will make you go, “Hmmmm, I’ve never thought of it that way…”.
This book is a collection of anecdotes, from a time when he was touring, making podcasts and taking care of his two children. During this madness, all Segura wanted to do was be alone, and that’s something we all can relate to.
Off with My Head: The Definitive Basic B*tch Handbook to Surviving Rock Bottom
By: Stassi Schroeder
Stassi Schroeder, the star of Next Level Basic comes to us with her new book, Off with My Head: The Definitive Basic B*tch Handbook to Surviving Rock Bottom. The book is exactly what it says – a handbook for handling the rock-bottom moments in your life, from someone who really did not see her bad luck coming.
We really enjoyed how this book ask us to prioritize self-care first above everything else. The hilarious stories and incidents are equally balanced with a set of self-deprecating jokes when tragedy strikes her life again and again. Overall, if you need a guide to find your own end of the tunnel, Stassi holds your hand through this book.
I'll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood
By: Jessi Klein
As a new mother or someone who is expecting, there’s enough and more happening in this world that makes you wonder, “What world is my child going to come into?” Jessi Klein helps you declutter the worry as she pulls apart cultural myths, the difficulty of being a mother, and a self-aware midlife phase for a mom.
I’ll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood is easily one of the funniest books we have read in recent times. The essays are incredibly honest and have a refreshing take on the frustrations of life. If there’s a book you want to read without putting it down, get this one.
Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir
By: Bob Odenkirk
There’s one side of Bob Odenkirk that you are familiar with, and that’s Saul Goodman from the iconic show Breaking Bad. But this man has equal fame in the comedy writing circles, where he was once a top writer for SNL at its prime.
Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir is a story of reinventing one’s life that will make you believe that all this couldn’t be done by just one guy. But the truth remains, this memoir is a true tale of showbiz, and this isn’t one you want to miss.
Hello, Molly!: A Memoir
By: Molly Shannon
Molly Shannon owns a place in our hearts as a core personality behind the Saturday Night Live sketches. But as a person, Molly grew up much sooner than she would’ve wished for. Hello, Molly!: A Memoir is a retelling of her life in her own voice.
Her tragic loss of her mother, her sister, and cousin, living with a dad who lost clarity of thought and succumbed to drunken stupors, and her entry into the Los Angeles show business, she covers it all in this book. There’s fun, emotion, silliness, and somberness all packed into the life that made this star, and we think this book is a 5-star read.
This Will Be Funny Later: A Memoir
By: Jenny Pentland
In This Will Be Funny Later: A Memoir, Jenny Pentland is a normal person who has permeated into the lives of those around her more than they know. This is because most of her life spent growing up in a middle-class family in Denver formed the subject of her mother’s record-breaking hit sitcom.
But when they join the ranks of the celebrities, Jenny, when she turns into an adolescent, comes down with anxiety and eating issues. And despite her parents’ well-intentioned help, it's up to her to find her own path, which she humorously writes down in this memoir, which can really move your heart.
Bossypants
By: Tina Fey
There’s never been a better time to get to know one of television history’s most iconic comedians – Tina Fey. When you get your hands on Bossypants, getting to know her doesn’t seem a distant possibility anymore. She details her dreams as a child to become a comedian on TV
Her rep for being a nerd in school and her touring as part of the Saturday Night Live crew, and her passions and pursuits in between all this. But what makes this book stand out? Her style of narration will have you laughing your lungs out, and we think you deserve to laugh like that sometimes.
Sisters Behaving Badly
By: Maddie Please
What happens when you put two estranged sisters as co-owners of a farmhouse that seems like a dream come true when you hear about it? Sisters Behaving Badly explores such a scenario through the lives of Kitty and Jenny, who had a falling-out during one Carvery lunch.
But the farmhouse presents a problem that the two have to solve together – it is a complete wreck and the chickens and donkey live in a world of their own and couldn’t care two hoots more about the sisters. We had a hard time putting this book down because its wit can hold your attention in place, so we think you should definitely give this book a shot.
Barely Functional Adult: It'll All Make Sense Eventually
By: Meichi Ng
Meichi Ng probably never expected her webcomic to garner a following of over 125k followers on Instagram alone. Barely Functional Adult: It'll All Make Sense Eventually is a collection of these relatable stories about what life looks like in your twenties, represented through the life of Barely Functional Adult, the protagonist we never knew we needed.
The reason this calls out to us is that the book expresses thoughts that we would think twice about when it crosses our mind. Maybe that is what we all need, some feeling of belonging and a reminder that we’re not alone in our thoughts or feelings.
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 be 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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