I’m a huge stand-up comedy nerd. I even braved the stage for open mic night comedy — twice. (Hey, I got a free beer for participating.) I also know how to read. So that makes me an expert in reading books about comedy. Many of the comedians in this list have shaped my own writing style. Something you’ll hopefully notice if you’ve read my book Essays Out of Left Field. (Yes, I already plugged my own book within the first paragraph of this post. Sorry/Not Sorry.)
These are 11 of my favorite books by comedians. Some dig behind the scenes of the stand-up world. Others read like the author’s comedy routine. A few mix in deep, emotional journeys through personal struggles. And some are just plain ridiculous. All are fantastic and hilarious. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
The Best Books by Comedians
Here’s the list, you guys! Are you excited?
| Title | Author | Year Published | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food, A Love Story | Jim Gaffigan | 2015 | A hilarious and unapologetic celebration of America’s favorite foods. Gaffigan shares his personal food memories, opinions, and fantasies. |
| Dad is Fat | Jim Gaffigan | 2013 | A sharp, funny memoir from a father of five kids. Dripping with delicious snark and sarcasm. |
| Delete That | John Crist | 2022 | A candid dive into the crazy ways we all try (and fail) to look cool online. Real life experiences from a comedian with over a billion video views. |
| Sure I’ll Join Your Cult | Maria Bamford | 2023 | A brave but also ridiculous memoir about belonging, mental health, and the quirky groups we join. Delivered with Bamford’s signature crazy characters (and voices via audiobook narration.) |
| Number One is Walking | Steve Martin | 2022 | A beautifully illustrated memoir of Steve Martin’s film career. Blends anecdotes from his movies with New Yorker-style artwork by Harry Bliss. |
| Born Standing Up | Steve Martin | 2007 | A deeply honest memoir tracing Martin’s rise from Disneyland magician to comedy superstar. And why he walked away at his peak. |
| I Must Say | Martin Short | 2014 | A showbiz memoir packed with crazy anecdotes and moving reflections from the comedy legend’s life. |
| Big Dumb Eyes | Nate Bargetze | 2025 | A charming, conversational collection of stories and confessions. Dry, clean, hilarious observations on life. |
| Misfit | Gary Gulman | 2023 | A deeply personal memoir about growing up awkward and battling depression. Gulman’s poetic storytelling is hilarious and captivating. |
| Born A Crime | Trevor Noah | 2016 | A moving, hilarious memoir of growing up mixed-race under apartheid in South Africa. |
| The Midwest Survival Guide | Charlie Berens | 2021 | A comedic love letter to the Midwest. Full of cultural quirks, and relatable truths about life in America’s heartland. |
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Books by Stand-up Comedians Summaries
Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
- Full Title: Food: A Love Story
- Author: Jim Gaffigan
- Year Published: 2015
- Author Background: Stand-up comedian famous for clean humor, self-deprecating jokes, and an unholy devotion to Hot Pockets.
- Type of Book: Humor / Essays
- Comedy Focus: Food obsessions, restaurant quirks, eating habits, regional cuisine quirks
- Appeal To: Food lovers, Gaffigan fans, Dads, all other people.
- Summary: A hilarious deep dive into America’s culinary landscape, told through the eyes (and stomach) of a man who’s never met a carb he didn’t like.
- My Thoughts: The gold standard for “clean comedy”. Say it with me now… Hot Pockets!
Want some more funny reads? Check out these collections of hilarious essays!
And some other hilarious memoirs here!
Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
- Full Title: Dad Is Fat
- Author: Jim Gaffigan
- Year Published: 2013
- Author Background: Stand-up comedian, father of five, king of parenting jokes, food guy (see above)
- Type of Book: Humor / Parenting Essays
- Comedy Focus: The chaos of raising a large family in a small NYC apartment.
- Appeal To: Parents, fans of observational humor, and chaos.
- Summary: Gaffigan chronicles his adventures in parenthood. Sleepless nights from living with toddlers who operate like tiny, irrational dictators.
- My Thoughts: So many quotable bits. One of my favorite Gaffiganisms: “You know what it’s like having five kids? Imagine you’re drowning. And someone hands you a baby.“
Want more funny books for Dads? Try these!
Delete That by John Crist
- Full Title: Delete That: (and Other Failed Attempts to Look Good Online)
- Author: John Crist
- Year Published: 2022
- Author Background: Stand-up comedian known for satirizing Christian culture via YouTube
- Type of Book: Humor / Memoir / Social Commentary
- Comedy Focus: Online culture, faith, and the ridiculous things we post to look good.
- Appeal To: Social media junkies, Crist fans, anyone who’s regretted a Facebook post.
- Summary: Crist blends comedy with candid reflections on faith, fame, and posting without thinking.
- My Thoughts: Funny, but mostly a cautionary tale about the risks of living an inauthentic life online.
Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult by Maria Bamford
- Full Title: Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere
- Author: Maria Bamford
- Year Published: 2023
- Author Background: Stand-up comic known for her quirky delivery, surreal humor, and openness about mental health.
- Type of Book: Memoir / Humor
- Comedy Focus: Mental illness, self-help culture, and finding belonging in strange places.
- Appeal To: Bamford fans, readers who appreciate vulnerable humor, anyone curious about the comedy-anxiety Venn diagram. Fans of weird.
- Summary: A blend of sharp comedy and raw honesty about navigating life with OCD, depression, and the search for community.
- My Thoughts: Comforting and absurd. Highly recommend the audiobook to experience the many quirky voices of Maria Bamford!
Want some more funny books about mental health? Check out this list!
Number One Is Walking by Steve Martin
- Full Title: Number One Is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions
- Author: Steve Martin
- Year Published: 2022
- Author Background: Comedy legend, writer, actor, banjo player. Basically the Swiss Army knife of funny people.
- Type of Book: Humor / Memoir / Graphic Novel
- Comedy Focus: Hollywood stories, career highlights, behind-the-scenes absurdities.
- Appeal To: Steve Martin fans, movie buffs, lovers of illustrated humor.
- Summary: Illustrated anecdotes from Martin’s decades in entertainment, paired with his trademark wit.
- My Thoughts: Super fun book – graphic novel of one of my favorite comedians? Yes please!
Born Standing Up by Steve Martin
- Full Title: Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life
- Author: Steve Martin
- Year Published: 2007
- Author Background: Comedian, actor, author, and banjo enthusiast
- Type of Book: Memoir
- Comedy Focus: Early stand-up career, creative process, and leaving the stage at his peak.
- Appeal To: Comedy history buffs, aspiring comedians, fans of Martin’s quirky style.
- Summary: A look at Martin’s rise, his comedy philosophy, and why he walked away from stand-up.
- My Thoughts: I used to constantly annoy my parents as a child, attempting to perform Martin’s famous bit, “I’m a wild and crazy guy!”
Check out more funny memoirs here!
I Must Say by Martin Short
- Full Title: I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend
- Author: Martin Short
- Year Published: 2014
- Author Background: Comedian and actor best known for SNL, Three Amigos, and a gallery of larger-than-life characters (like obnoxious interviewer, Jiminy Glick!)
- Type of Book: Memoir / Humor
- Comedy Focus: Career stories, personal struggles, and comedic inspiration.
- Appeal To: Martin Short fans, sketch comedy lovers
- Summary: memoir mixing showbiz tales, reflections on love, loss, and performing.
- My Thoughts: Super subtle comedy. Just kidding.
Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze
- Full Title: Big Dumb Eyes
- Author: Nate Bargatze
- Year Published: 2025
- Author Background: Stand-up comedian dubbed “the nicest man in comedy,” known for clean, dry humor.
- Type of Book: Humor / Essays
- Comedy Focus: Everyday life, subtle absurdities, and deadpan delivery.
- Appeal To: Bargatze fans, clean comedy enthusiasts, people who enjoy humor without yelling.
- Summary: Bargatze turns mundane into ridiculous.
- My Thoughts: My personal top 5 comedians of all time. And he’s got time to climb the ladder!
Misfit by Gary Gulman
- Full Title: Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the ’80s
- Author: Gary Gulman
- Year Published: 2023
- Author Background: Stand-up comedian celebrated for clever wordplay and candid mental health discussions.
- Type of Book: Memoir / Humor
- Comedy Focus: Childhood awkwardness, anxiety, and finding your voice.
- Appeal To: Gulman fans, children of the ’80s, introverts with a sense of humor.
- Summary: A funny and heartfelt exploration of Gulman’s youth and how it shaped his comedy.
- My Thoughts: Gulman’s recollections of childhood were incredibly vivid. He is a poetic wordsmith. Also talked about collecting baseball cards, so bonus points for Gary.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
- Full Title: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
- Author: Trevor Noah
- Year Published: 2016
- Author Background: South African comedian, The Daily Show host.
- Type of Book: Memoir / Humor / Social Commentary
- Comedy Focus: Race, identity, and growing up under apartheid.
- Appeal To: Noah fans, history buffs, fans of compelling stories about race, political turmoil, and poverty (but make it funny.)
- Summary: Funny, gripping stories from Noah’s unconventional childhood and his path to comedy fame.
- My Thoughts: Over 100,000 REVIEWS on Amazon. Do you know how many readers it takes to get 100,000 reviews on Amazon? I don’t know either, but it is a LOT more than 100,000 readers. What I’m saying is, this book has been read by many, many people.
The Midwest Survival Guide by Charlie Berens
- Full Title: The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat… Everything with Ranch
- Author: Charlie Berens
- Year Published: 2021
- Author Background: Stand-up comedian and creator of Manitowoc Minute, celebrating and roasting Midwestern culture.
- Type of Book: Humor / Regional Comedy
- Comedy Focus: Midwestern quirks, traditions, and weather complaints.
- Appeal To: Midwesterners, Midwest expats, anyone who’s ever used “ope” in a sentence.
- Summary: A tongue-in-cheek guide to living (and surviving) in the Midwest.
- My Thoughts: Midwest humor is my jam. Beren’s bits all hit close to home with me.
Conclusion: The Best Books by Stand Up Comedians
I may never do open mic stand-up again (stop cheering, I wasn’t that bad.) But I can live vicariously through the tales of my favorite comedy stars. And really, that’s the beauty of these books. They let me/us peek behind the curtain without having to bomb on stage ourselves. If you’re looking for laughs, life lessons, or proof that the funniest people struggle too, these comedian memoirs deliver.
Gimme some more comedian books! (Leave a comment below.)
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