I love a book that makes me chuckle, snort, or full-on cry-laugh in public like a lunatic. Unlike a novel, humor essays let me dip in and out of them without forgetting who the main character is (spoiler: it’s usually the author). One can enjoy funny essays even if you have the attention span of a fruit fly! (I’m not a scientist, but I assume fruit flies have short attention spans.)
Humor essays are my absolute favorite genre. The fact that I have written my own humor essay collection AND included it in this list is purely coincidental manipulative.
From ridiculous personal mishaps to painfully relatable life lessons, humor essays give us the gift of laughter—often at the writer’s expense.
What exactly is a humor essay? And which books should you read if you want the best of the best? Lucky for you, I’m a (self-proclaimed) expert on the matter of funny essays and I’ve curated a list of the funniest essay collections — at least that I’ve read.
What Is a Humor Essay?
A humor essay is a piece of nonfiction writing whose primary purpose is to entertain or amuse, instead of informing readers. But they are not simply a pile of jokes. Unlike stand-up comedy or joke books, humor essays typically have a narrative structure.
The best ones blend engaging (and funny) storytelling with observations about life, culture, or personal experiences. Humor essayists often sneak in poignant life lessons disguised through the humor. (My personal humor essay writing style!)
Great humor essays often mix self-deprecation, exaggeration, and clever wordplay to expose the nuggets of hilarity found in everyday life. They can be lighthearted and silly or biting and satirical, depending on the writer’s style.
Who Are the Best Humor Essayists Today?
There are plenty of humorists out there, but some stand out as masters of the form. David Sedaris practically owns the genre. Jenny Lawson has made anxiety and taxidermy weirdly hilarious. Nora Ephron left behind a legacy of sharp, self-aware wit. Meanwhile, writers like Mindy Kaling, Nick Offerman, and R. Eric Thomas bring their own spin to humorous storytelling.
Scott Johnson, while known for his striking good looks and amazing blog content, offers wholesome yet hilarious life advice for all ages.
These modern essayists follow in the footsteps of humor legends. Writers today, who strive to blend funny anecdotes with subtle (yet biting) social commentary, owe a debt to Erma Bombeck, James Thurber, and even Mark Twain.
What Makes a Great Humor Essay?
- Relatability: Even the most ridiculous story needs an emotional core—something that makes readers think, Yeah, I’ve never been bowling with the Pope, but I understand where this is coming from.
- Self-Deprecation (but not self-pity): Laughing at yourself is a key ingredient. But nobody wants to read an essay that’s just someone beating themselves up. The sweet spot? Poking fun at your own ridiculousness while letting readers relate.
- Sharp Observations: The best humor essayists notice the weird, annoying, and absurd little details of everyday life. Then they twist them just enough to turn the mundane into comedy gold.
- Strong Narrative (or at least a point): Even if it’s rambling dissertation of nothingness, a humor essay needs some structure. You know, like beginning, middle and end?
- Exaggeration (but not TOO much): Great humor essays stretch reality just enough to be funny but not so much that they lose believability. A bad haircut can feel life-ruining without needing to claim it caused an international crisis (unless it actually did, which would also be funny.)
- A Hint of Truth (or a Gut Punch at the End): The best humor essays often have a sneaky emotional core. Laugh, laugh, laugh, BOOM, a thought that makes you pause for half a second before laughing again. In short, a great humor essay makes readers laugh and think—sometimes against their will.
The Best Humor Essay Collections
Here’s the list, you guys! Are you excited?
| Title | Author | Year Published | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essays Out of Left Field: Life Lessons from a Midwestern Dad Who Talks About Sports Too Much | Scott Johnson | 2023 | A collection of hilarious essays with Midwestern charm, packed with wit, sarcasm, and occasional inspiration. |
| Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man’s Fundamentals for Delicious Living | Nick Offerman | 2013 | Offerman’s funny, self-assured memoir filled with life advice and woodworking wisdom. |
| All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten | Robert Fulghum | 1988 | Fulghum offers wholesome, insightful reflections on life, love, and the simple lessons learned in childhood. |
| You’re Leaving When? Adventures in Downward Mobility | Annabelle Gurwitch | 2021 | Gurwitch downsizes after her divorce. Parenting a non-binary child and subletting to strangers. |
| Congratulations, The Best Is Over! Essays | R. Eric Thomas | 2023 | Thomas’ personal reflections tackling identity, race, love, friendship and life’s transitions. |
| If You Can’t Take the Heat: Tales of Food, Feminism, and Fury | Geraldine DeRuiter | 2023 | DeRuiter’s comedic journey through cooking (and eating) disasters and life lessons. |
| Me Talk Pretty One Day | David Sedaris | 2000 | Sedaris’s sharp, observational humor, from living in France to quirky family dynamics. |
| Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things | Jenny Lawson | 2015 | Lawson’s hilarious memoir and battle cry (“furiously happy”) against mental health struggles |
| I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman | Nora Ephron | 2006 | Ephron’s witty reflections on aging, beauty, food, and New York City. |
| Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) | Mindy Kaling | 2011 | Kaling reflects on her life, career, and the awkwardness of growing up. |
| Food: A Love Story | Jim Gaffigan | 2014 | Jim Gaffigan (the Hot Pockets guy) riffs on food. Because of course he does. |
Humor Essay Summaries
Essays Out of Left Field – Scott Johnson (2023)
Yes, this is my book. PLEASE DON’T LEAVE YET! I promise I’ll show you the “real” funny essayists below. My book truly is (intended to be) a humorous collection of essays featuring Midwestern wit, self-reflection, wholesomeness, and plenty of dry sarcasm. Oh yeah, and lots of sports references. I mean, it has the word “Essay” right in the title. That should count for something.
Funny Essay Nuggets:
- Sharp, self-aware, wholesome Midwestern Dad humor
- Occasional inspirational messaging sprinkled in-between ridiculousness
Paddle Your Own Canoe – Nick Offerman (2013)
Part memoir, part life advice, all delivered with Offerman’s signature deadpan humor. Expect stories about woodworking, mustaches, and life lessons from Ron Swanson’s real-life counterpart.
Funny Essay Nuggets:
- Offerman’s mix of gruff wisdom and ridiculous tangents
- Includes a surprising number of heartfelt moments (but not too many—don’t worry)
- Excellent illustrations and infographics, including Offerman’s go-to breakdancing moves
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten – Robert Fulghum (1988)
A wholesome yet hilarious collection of essays about the simple rules of life, like sharing your cookies and not hitting people.
Funny Essay Nuggets:
- Delightfully simple wisdom
- A mix of heartwarming and funny moments
You’re Leaving When? – Annabelle Gurwitch (2021)
A witty, relatable take on aging, empty nesting, and starting over when life throws you curveballs.
Funny Essay Nuggets:
- A brutally honest and hilarious look at midlife crises
- Gurwitch’s financial hardships make for delightfully funny stories
- Actress and author
Congratulations, The Best Is Over! – R. Eric Thomas (2023)
A hilarious memoir reflecting on adulthood, change, and why life doesn’t get easier—it just gets weirder.
Funny Essay Nuggets:
- Love/hate relationship with the city of Baltimore
- Married to a Presbyterian minister
- Gay frogs in the backyard?
- COVID-19 reflections
If You Can’t Take the Heat – Geraldine DeRuiter (2023)
Food blogger turned humorist DeRuiter shares her misadventures in the kitchen and beyond.
Funny Essay Nuggets:
- Food-related humor
- Known in the blogging world as “The Everywhereist”
- Viral takedown of misogyny (Mario Batali)
Me Talk Pretty One Day – David Sedaris (2000)
A classic collection of Sedaris’ best essays, from his childhood speech therapy struggles to his attempts to learn French as an adult.
Funny Essay Nuggets:
- Sedaris’ dry, observational humor is unmatched
- The perfect balance of absurdity and clever insight
- Trying to learn French – and letting us in on the failed journey
Furiously Happy – Jenny Lawson (2015)
Lawson recounts her eccentric childhood and adult life with a mix of absurdity, anxiety, and taxidermy.
Funny Essay Nuggets:
- Completely bizarre yet oddly relatable
- You’ll never look at a stuffed raccoon the same way again
- Hilarious stream-of-consciousness rambling
I Feel Bad About My Neck – Nora Ephron (2006)
A sharp, witty take on aging, beauty standards, and the general nonsense of life from the late, great Nora Ephron.
Funny Essay Nuggets:
- Hilarious, candid thoughts on life for women “of a certain age”
- Menopause, empty nest, rent control
- The patron saint of romantic comedy (When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, etc)
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? – Mindy Kaling (2011)
A mix of personal stories and comedic observations from Kaling’s rise in Hollywood.
Funny Essay Nuggets:
- Kaling’s mix of self-deprecating humor and confidence is perfect
- Feels like getting life advice from your funniest friend
- Kelly Kapoor from The Office
Food: A Love Story – Jim Gaffigan (2014)
Gaffigan’s famous comedic food rants, in book form
Funny Essay Nuggets:
- Hot Pockets! (You should know this bit by now.)
- One of the premier comics today
- Stand-up comedy bits, delivered in essay form
Conclusion: Humor Essays Worth Reading
Whether you want relatable life struggles, ridiculous storytelling, or just an excuse to laugh at someone else’s misfortune, these humor essay collections hit the mark. However, this list has barely scratched the surface.
Gimme some more humor essay examples! (Leave a comment below.)
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
