Best Comedy Books

This hilarious sci-fi adventure follows Arthur Dent, a man saved from Earth's destruction by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Using advice from the guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have"), they traverse space with eccentric characters like Zaphod Beeblebrox and the depressed robot Marvin. Get ready for a galaxy full of laughs and absurdity.

Laugh out loud with David Sedaris' hilarious collection of essays inspired by his move from New York to Paris. From a sadistic French teacher to his brother's incessant hip-hop slang, nothing is off-limits in this witty and sharp commentary on modern annoyances, including ludicrous restaurant meals and cashiers with six-inch fingernails.

Discover a hilarious and relatable memoir that explores topics like friendship, romance, and Hollywood from the perspective of a comedy writer and actress. In this book, Mindy Kaling shares her unscientific observations and personal experiences with wit and humor, providing readers with insight on what makes a great best friend and guy, as well as how to navigate fame. With plenty of stopping points for you to take care of your errands and phone calls, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? is a must-read for anyone looking for a fun and engaging memoir.

This memoir tells the story of Steve Martin's rise to fame as a stand-up comedian in the mid-seventies, ultimately becoming the biggest concert draw in history by 1978. It's a candid and spectacularly amusing account of the sacrifices, discipline, and originality that made Martin an icon, informed by his experiences at Disneyland, the Bird Cage Theatre and Knott's Berry Farm. He also provides a portrait of the era of free love and protests against the Vietnam War, and the transformative new voice of Saturday Night Live in the seventies. Completing the memoir are photographs never seen before. Born Standing Up is a superb testament to one of the greatest and most iconoclastic comedians of all time.

This hilarious book takes readers on a journey into author Jenny Lawson's mortifying and defining moments, from her bizarre upbringing in rural Texas to her awkward high school experiences and relationship with long-suffering husband Victor. Chapters include stories about an angry husband, a talking squirrel, and even a dead Cuban alligator. With accompanying pictures and captions, Let's Pretend This Never Happened is a must-read for fans of Tina Fey and David Sedaris.

A family trip to Antarctica takes an unexpected turn when fiercely intelligent shut-in Bernadette Fox vanishes. Her daughter Bee takes it upon herself to uncover the secret past her mother has been hiding for decades by piecing together emails, invoices, and school memos. Where'd You Go, Bernadette is an entertaining novel that explores family dynamics, the importance of self-discovery, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter.

A candid and humorous look at women getting older and dealing with maintenance, menopause, empty nests, and life itself. From the woman who brought us beloved romantic comedies like When Harry Met Sally, comes a book chronicling Nora Ephron's life as a cook, passionate city dweller, and parent. With wit and vulnerability, she shares her ups and downs, from her time as a White House intern during the JFK years to falling in and out of love with Bill Clinton. Utterly courageous, wickedly funny, and unexpectedly moving, this book is full of wisdom, advice, and laugh-out-loud moments.

This powerful memoir tells the story of a young boy growing up during apartheid South Africa. Born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother, Trevor Noah's very existence was a criminal act. His mother took extreme measures to protect him, but finally liberated by the end of white rule, they set forth on a grand adventure to embrace a newfound freedom. Noah's hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting stories form a moving and searingly funny portrait that weaves together a boy's journey in a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother's unconventional, unconditional love.