Funny books by funny people

February 13, 2012 4:24 PM

Loved Bossypants by Tina Fey! Looking for more comedic autobiographies (bonus points if the audio version is read by the author).
posted by carnivoregiraffe to grab bag (26 answers total)

I loved Bossypants too! I received Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me, read by the author, for Christmas but I haven't had time to listen to it yet (so not the strongest recommendation ever...).
posted by smilingtiger at 4:27 PM on February 13 [2 favorites]

David Sedaris' Me Talk Pretty One Day is hilarious in book form, and his audio version is even better. Short autobiographical essays.
posted by illenion at 4:27 PM on February 13 [9 favorites]

I Know I Am, But What Are You? by Samantha Bee.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:28 PM on February 13

I'm reading Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? right now and enjoying it a lot. Margaret Cho's I'm the One That I Want is great, and it looks like she reads the audiobook.

I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crossley is also great.
posted by lunasol at 4:31 PM on February 13

smilingtiger is talking about "Is Everyone Hanging Out without Me and other concerns" By Mindy Kaling. She is a writer for the office (and plays Kelly on the show), so it is similar to Bossypants. A fun easy read too.
posted by biograd08 at 4:36 PM on February 13 [2 favorites]

I haven't read Bossypants, but I love Tina Fey. I agree that you'd love all of David Sedaris's books, which are mostly comedic autobiographies, though probably somewhat embellished. Me Talk Pretty One Day is my favorite, but I also love Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Naked, and the Christmas stories one. I think all of them are available as audio (read by the author).
posted by insectosaurus at 4:37 PM on February 13

Actually, anything by David Sedaris is autobiographical and side splittingly funny.

I am also partial to the truthiness-challenged work of Stephen Colbert.

posted by bearwife at 4:38 PM on February 13 [1 favorite]

I liked Chelsea Handler's My Horizontal Life.
posted by deadmessenger at 4:46 PM on February 13

Also, it's not necessarily comedic from wall to wall, but Angela's Ashes was damn funny in spots, and the audiobook version was read by the author, Frank McCourt.
posted by deadmessenger at 4:49 PM on February 13

Steve Martin reads the audio version of his wonderfully-written memoir, "Born Standing Up."
posted by argonauta at 4:49 PM on February 13 [4 favorites]

Caryl Rivers' Aphrodite at Midcentury.
posted by brujita at 4:53 PM on February 13

Craig Ferguson's autobiography. I have momentarily forgotten its name (An American on Purpose?) but he read the audio book version.
posted by Lucinda at 5:04 PM on February 13 [3 favorites]

Is Everyone... is hilarious. Love Mindy Kaling.

Jane Lynch's recent autobio is less rumbustiously jokey than Bossypants, but I dug it.

Craig Ferguson's American on Purpose is pretty nifty, as Lucinda says.

Patton Oswalt's Zombie Spaceship Wasteland made me laugh and wince in perhaps equal parts.

Wanda Sykes's Yeah, I Said It is an uneven read, but it might be more enjoyable with her delivery.

I like Wade Rouse's work. And Bob Smith's. And Laurie Notaro's.
posted by Sidhedevil at 5:08 PM on February 13

Two words: Harpo Speaks.

Though there isn't an audio version, for obvious reasons.
posted by Bromius at 5:18 PM on February 13 [3 favorites]

Well, Betty White's If You Ask Me (and of course you won't) beat out Bossypants to win the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album so I'm going to guess (haven't read it yet!) that it's pretty lively and entertaining.
posted by librarylis at 5:30 PM on February 13

Robert Evans - The Kid Stays In The Picture
posted by rhizome at 5:38 PM on February 13

Bromius beat me to the suggestion and joke.

Cannot recommend it highly enough. One of the most charming, delightful, hilarious books I've ever read.
posted by Capt. Renault at 5:44 PM on February 13

Seconding Harpo Speaks. Hilarious & charming.
posted by CaptainCaseous at 6:26 PM on February 13

Sarah Silverman's The Bedwetter is surprisingly heartfelt.
posted by arianell at 6:43 PM on February 13 [2 favorites]

The Areas of My Expertise, by John Hodgman
posted by megatherium at 7:49 PM on February 13

Seconding Sarah Silverman's The Bedwetter and Craig Ferguson's American on Purpose.

Adding Kathy Griffin's Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin. I wasn't a big Griffin fan to start, but it was a fun read, and like Silverman and Ferguson, she has her poignant moments.
posted by ariela at 11:01 PM on February 13

Can strongly recommend "I, Partridge: We Need To Talk About Alan", by the Norwich tv presenter and all round family entertainer Alan Partridge. Audio book particularly recommended.
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 4:16 AM on February 14 [3 favorites]

I came in here to recommend the same book: but in case you don't know, Alan Partridge is a comedy character.

I didn't like David Sedaris in print until I heard him read his own work, so try that if you've been underwhelmed by his books.
posted by mippy at 9:17 AM on February 14

If you don't mind it being a little on the "completely made up" side, Bigger than Hitler - Better than Christ by Rik Mayall is a good choice too.
posted by Lucinda at 10:47 AM on February 14

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed by Alan Alda is very funny, and surprising. He had a really quirky childhood. For a preview you can listen to this interview he gave on Fresh Air about it a few years back.
posted by amelliferae at 4:28 PM on February 14

George Carlin is the first LOL author I've ever read. Also Chris Rock's ab is pretty hilarious.
posted by nondescript at 6:26 PM on February 14