13 Hilarious Memoirs From Our Favorite Comedians

March 1 2016
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Life is hard, and sometimes you just need to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Lucky for us, recent years have seen a slew of books from funny-girls and funny-guys that have left us shaking with sidesplitting laughter. Here are 13 books from some of our greatest comedic minds to get you guffawing.

Bossypants
by Tina Fey

Teeming with side-splitting anecdotes, unsolicited opinions, and some useful advice, this memoir follows Tina Fey’s life from her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her prodigious career in comedy. Fey continues to charm us all, all the while reminding us that you can think while you laugh.

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Bossypants
Tina Fey

Before Liz Lemon, before "Weekend Update," before "Sarah Palin," Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV. She has seen both these dreams come true.

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Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
by Mindy Kaling

With a blend of witty confessions and unscientific observations, comedy writer and actress Mindy Kaling writes about everything from romance to friendship to Hollywood. Kaling herself narrates the audiobook, a listening experience that feels like you’re in on the secret confessions of your (exceptionally hysterical) best friend.

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Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
Mindy Kaling

This humorous memoir is a look at moments throughout Mindy Kaling’s life—from her career as an actress to her interesting dating life to having immigrant parents, she tells stories that many can relate to. She’s hilarious and this book reads like a page out of your friend’s diary.

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Yes Please
by Amy Poehler

A comedic genius, actress, media darling, and all-around-awesome lady, Amy Poehler is beloved by her peers and fans for her realness, her integrity, and her intelligence. Her memoir is powered by the charming and hilarious, biting yet wise voice that has made her the celebrity best friend that most people dream of.

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Yes Please
Amy Poehler

A comedic genius, actress, media darling, and all-around-awesome lady, Amy Poehler is beloved by her peers and fans for her realness, her integrity, and her intelligence. Her memoir is powered by the charming and hilarious, biting yet wise voice that has made her the celebrity best friend that most people dream of.

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Born Standing Up
by Steve Martin

For fans of “Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin

“Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin” is a “series of intimate and honest conversations” with (usually) famous personalities. Comic genius Steve Martin’s memoir, BORN STANDING UP, fits that bill. Martin shares deeply personal insights into his life and comedic process, from his childhood growing up a few miles from Disneyland (where he later worked selling guidebooks) to the heartbreaking sacrifices he chose to make in order to fully nurture and perfect his craft. An extraordinary talent and read.

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Born Standing Up
Steve Martin

For fans of “Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin

“Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin” is a “series of intimate and honest conversations” with (usually) famous personalities. Comic genius Steve Martin’s memoir, BORN STANDING UP, fits that bill. Martin shares deeply personal insights into his life and comedic process, from his childhood growing up a few miles from Disneyland (where he later worked selling guidebooks) to the heartbreaking sacrifices he chose to make in order to fully nurture and perfect his craft. An extraordinary talent and read.

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Even This I Get to Experience
by Norman Lear

From the mind behind iconic television sitcoms such as "All in the Family," "Good Times," and "The Jeffersons" comes a witty memoir that impressively captures its author’s ninety-plus years. At once touching, revealing, and humorous, this famed comedy staple knows how to make even the dark times laughable.

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Even This I Get to Experience
Norman Lear

From the mind behind iconic television sitcoms such as "All in the Family," "Good Times," and "The Jeffersons" comes a witty memoir that impressively captures its author’s ninety-plus years. At once touching, revealing, and humorous, this famed comedy staple knows how to make even the dark times laughable.

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MENTIONED IN:

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Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea
by Chelsea Handler

When Chelsea Handler needs to get a few things off her chest, she appeals to a higher power—vodka. Her memoir mines her past for stories about her family, relationships, and career, and showcases the candor and irresistible turns of phrase that have made her one of the freshest voices in comedy today.

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Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea
Chelsea Handler

When Chelsea Handler needs to get a few things off her chest, she appeals to a higher power—vodka. Seems reasonable, when considering that she discovered her boyfriend was having an affair with a Peekapoo and she had to pretend to be honeymooning with her father in order to upgrade to first class. Welcome to Chelsea’s world—a place where absurdity reigns supreme and a quick wit is the best line of defense...

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MENTIONED IN:

13 Hilarious Memoirs From Our Favorite Comedians

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Harpo Speaks!
by Harpo Marx and Rowland Barber

To Marx Brothers fans who have yet to read this book: put if off as long as you can, because once you are finished, you will wish you could read it again for the first time.

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Harpo Speaks!
Harpo Marx and Rowland Barber

To Marx Brothers fans who have yet to read this book: put if off as long as you can, because once you are finished, you will wish you could read it again for the first time.

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MENTIONED IN:

13 Hilarious Memoirs From Our Favorite Comedians

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Last Words
by George Carlin

True to the phrase “womb to tomb,” George Carlin tells his whole story from conception to his final years. Carlin saw it all throughout his extraordinary fifty-year career, and made fun of most of it. His memoir is told with the acerbic humor and razor-sharp honesty that made him one of the best-loved comedians in American history.

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Last Words
George Carlin

True to the phrase “womb to tomb,” George Carlin tells his whole story from conception to his final years. Carlin saw it all throughout his extraordinary fifty-year career, and made fun of most of it. His memoir is told with the acerbic humor and razor-sharp honesty that made him one of the best-loved comedians in American history.

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Sick in the Head
by Judd Apatow

Before becoming one of the most successful filmmakers in Hollywood, Judd Apatow was the original comedy nerd. Thirty years later, he’s collected interviews from his funniest friends in this collection that explores creativity, ambition, neediness, generosity, and, of course, the back-of-the-club gossip that comics tell one another when no one else is listening.

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Sick in the Head
Judd Apatow

Before becoming one of the most successful filmmakers in Hollywood, Judd Apatow was the original comedy nerd. Thirty years later, he’s collected interviews from his funniest friends in this collection that explores creativity, ambition, neediness, generosity, and, of course, the back-of-the-club gossip that comics tell one another when no one else is listening.

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Sleepwalk with Me
by Mike Birbiglia

This "Orange Is the New Black" star has had three hit comedy albums, an off-Broadway show, and the comedy show SLEEPWALK WITH ME, which served as the inspiration for this book. In his trademark deadpan delivery, Mike Birbiglia spills about his seriously funny sleepwalking disorder and, well . . . other painfully true stories.

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Sleepwalk with Me
Mike Birbiglia

This "Orange Is the New Black" star has had three hit comedy albums, an off-Broadway show, and the comedy show SLEEPWALK WITH ME, which served as the inspiration for this book. In his trademark deadpan delivery, Mike Birbiglia spills about his seriously funny sleepwalking disorder and, well . . . other painfully true stories.

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Zombie Spaceship Wasteland
by Patton Oswalt

Patton Oswalt, known for his acerbic, highly eloquent, and wildly funny stand-up comedy, combines memoir with uproarious humor with his theory that before all young creative minds have anything to write about, they will home in one of three story lines: zombies, spaceships, or wastelands.

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Zombie Spaceship Wasteland
Patton Oswalt

Patton Oswalt, known for his acerbic, highly eloquent, and wildly funny stand-up comedy, combines memoir with uproarious humor with his theory that before all young creative minds have anything to write about, they will home in one of three story lines: zombies, spaceships, or wastelands.

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MENTIONED IN:

13 Hilarious Memoirs From Our Favorite Comedians

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Modern Romance
by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg

Aziz Ansari teams up with NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg to deliver this hilarious, thoughtful, and in-depth exploration of the pleasures and perils of modern romance. Ansari combines his irreverent humor with cutting-edge social science to give us an unforgettable tour of our new romantic world.

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Modern Romance
Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg

Aziz Ansari blew my mind with his fresh meditation on dating, so accurate and affirming of all my trials and tribulations navigating the harrowing dating scene in New York City that it brought me to tears. Well, maybe not real tears, but my eyes were definitely watering as I attempted to hold back audible snorts of laughter while reading it on the subway.

Read Hilary Krutt’s review here.

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I Can Barely Take Care of Myself
by Jen Kirkman

Known for her roundtables on "Chelsea Lately" and as a narrator on more than a few episodes of "Drunk History," Jen Kirkman unapologetically argues that she is “child-free by choice” and jokes that men die first to make up for that whole sexism thing. The perfect read for the book lover who needs a little more crazy in her life, these pages are packed with Jen’s snarky wit, firm opinions, and at least one joke on every page.

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I Can Barely Take Care of Myself
Jen Kirkman

Known for her roundtables on "Chelsea Lately" and as a narrator on more than a few episodes of "Drunk History," Jen Kirkman unapologetically argues that she is “child-free by choice” and jokes that men die first to make up for that whole sexism thing. The perfect read for the book lover who needs a little more crazy in her life, these pages are packed with Jen’s snarky wit, firm opinions, and at least one joke on every page.

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MENTIONED IN:

13 Hilarious Memoirs From Our Favorite Comedians

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