Comedy Books of 2026: The Ultimate Guide

Looking for the best comedy books of 2026? This guide includes comedians’ memoirs, novels by or about comedians, pop culture, history and philosophy of comedy, and behind-the-scenes stories, all releasing this year. I’ll update as new titles are announced. Did I miss any? Let me know! This guide is for all comedy fans, anyone who needs more laughs, and everyone looking for their next great read.

JANUARY

MEMOIR:

• Humor Me by Chris Duffy. Part memoir, part guide to resilience through humor

• Never Mind the Happy by Marc Shaiman. A surprising, charming, fun and honest showbiz memoir

• Attention Seeker by Darcy Michael. Lots of stories and encouragement from the “neurofabulous” author and his “long-suffering” husband.

LIFE GUIDES:

• The Official We Do Not Care Handbook by Melani Sanders. Sisterhood and community keep us sane.

• The Book of Red Flags by Jenny Gorelick. This field guide to dating will help you identify warning signs—and decode what they really mean—before things go any further. Pairs well with Jared Freid’s June release, Walking Red Flag.

NOVEL:

FEBRUARY

MEMOIR:

• Arsenio by Arsenio Hall. Chicago comedian alert! Written in a great breezy style very much like his iconic show.

• It’s Never Too Late by Marla Gibbs. Chicago comedian alert! She left an abusive marriage, went to L.A. and became an icon.

• Bubble Boy by Robert Forrest Williams. Chicago comedian alert! Twists and turns on the way to ultimate success.

• Choosing to be Chosen by Kylie Ora Lobell. Called intimate, vulnerable and brilliant by reviewers, this memoir is about the author, her husband L.A. comedian Danny Lobell, and her life-changing decision to convert to Judaism.

• Making the Cut by Max Olesker. My original intent was only books about American comedy, but what are the odds? Just two weeks after Kylie Ora Lobell’s book was released in the U.S., Max Olesker’s memoir arrived in the U.K. Max, a British comedian, recounts his unexpected conversion to Orthodox Judaism after meeting the love of his life in a bar in Scotland. February 2026 was an auspicious month for spirituality. See Jason Crawford’s book below.

• This Was Funnier in China by Jess Appell. Apprenticing to Master Ding and what happens when you’re the only American on China’s version of SNL.

BOOKS ABOUT COMEDY:

• Chicken Heart by Morgan Boecher. Stand-up helps a young boy come to terms with his trans identity.

• A Place Both Wonderful and Strange by Scott Meslow. A “dishy” and “insightful” new history of Twin Peaks with exclusive interviews and new content.

• God’s Fools by Jason Crawford. From Perpetua of Carthage to Richard Pryor and beyond, stand-up comedy’s roots lie deep within the history of the human spirit.

LIFE GUIDE:

MARCH

MEMOIR:

• The End of My Life is Killing Me by Annabelle Gurwitch. This actor, comedy writer and bestselling author confronts a surprise stage 4 cancer diagnosis with her legendary sense of humor and discovers a satisfying new form of rebellion as a “cancer slacker.”

• How to Be Okay When Nothing is Okay by Jenny Lawson. A comedic, empathetic take on staying creative when your brain is a saboteur.

• Delusions: Of Grandeur, of Romance, of Progress by Cazzie David. The author reflects on the self-deceptions of her twenties.

• Adult Braces by Lindy West. When Shrill hit the bestseller list and became a hit TV series, Lindy West unexpectedly imploded and hit rock bottom. Her path back to life was surprising and holds lessons for all of us, especially if we’re tied to others’ expectations.

• Making Money Being Funny by Judy Carter. The latest from the comedy business guru.

• You With the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate. From Married With Children to Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead to Anchorman and more. You’ll be surprised to learn what Christina Applegate dealt with behind the scenes. Folks with MS and chronic illness will especially appreciate the humor, vulnerability and validation.

CULTURE & PHILOSOPHY:

• Black Out Loud by Geoff Bennett. A great complement to Mel Watkins’ 1994 landmark history On the Real Side. Watkins documented the deep history of Black American comedy; Bennett continues the exploration of cultural impact.

• Wit Happens edited by Jennifer Caplan, Jarrod Tanny, Avinoam Patt. A diverse group of academics discuss Jewish humor worldwide. Not exactly breezy, but lots of interesting, sometimes controversial perspectives.

• Can We Laugh at That? by Jacques Berlinerblau. This Georgetown University professor looks at free speech and cultural conflict. Topics range from Dave Chappelle, Sarah Silverman, Kathy Griffin, and Shane Gillis to comedy in Zimbabwe. Like Wit Happens, on the academic side.

NOVEL:

• That’s What Friends Are For by Wade Rouse. Wade Rouse is the beloved bestselling author of five hilarious memoirs and sixteen novels. With this latest, he gives us a perfect summer tribute to the Golden Girls, but this time they’re guys, gay and live in Palm Springs.

APRIL

MEMOIR:

• SPIT: A Life in Battles by Jonnie Park. He was smuggled across the US-Mexico border by Korean parents, dealt with tons of obstacles and went on to become a comedian, actor and Grammy-nominated rap artist. If you’re watching Jeopardy this season (reference to contestant Chris D’Angelo), you’ll be psyched that Jonnie Park also starred in the Hulu comedy Quiz Lady.

• Till Death Do We Parent by Jess Hilarious. Years before those sold-out crowds, Jess Hilarious was a 19-year old dreaming of marrying and raising a family with her high school sweetheart. That’s not what happened.

• Blazing Humor by Ann Diament Koffsky. Ann Koffsky introduces a new generation to Mel Brooks. How a Jewish kid from Brooklyn used laughter to confront schoolyard bullies, defy prejudice, challenge dictators, and make audiences laugh all around the world. This book, stunning in both illustration and story, was recently featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

• Famesick by Lena Dunham. The unglamorous side of celebrity and what happens when it trashes your health.

• Glass Half Full by Zane Lamprey. Zane Lamprey’s optimism, curiosity, and enthusiasm for connecting with people from all walks of life helped him create successful travel shows like Three Sheets and Drinking Made Easy. Of course there were setbacks and that’s what makes this memoir a welcome reminder to keep seeking joy and community no matter what life throws at us.

• Happiness Included by Eve Plumb. Eve Plumb’s life in and out of classic TV, and of course, behind the scenes at The Brady Bunch.

BOOKS ABOUT COMEDY:

• Parks and Rec by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong. This author is known for illuminating pop culture’s funniest, most fascinating spaces. Through original reporting and firsthand accounts, she uncovers behind-the-scenes stories and insights you won’t find anywhere else.

ART THERAPY:

• The We Do Not Care Club Coloring Book by Melani Sanders. “For all of the fed-up Sisters in perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.”

NOVELS:

• Into the Blue by Emma Brodie. Dreams of writing for late night comedy are complicated by intergalactic time travel and a hot romance.

• The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne. A group of young women, all college improv comedians, break through 1980s bias to become wildly successful late night comedy writers. Years later, a mysterious disappearance threatens their aspirations and darkest secrets.

• Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein. The author is a sketch and stand-up comedian, journalist and art history scholar. This is the story of 40 year-old Jean Doman looking back at a relationship with her college professor and communicating spiritually with “Saint Monica” as she seeks insight and redemption. Called “wholly original,” “wise” and “funny.”

• Deadweight by Bobby Lee. First … that cover! It’s beautiful and take it at its word. This graphic novel becomes blood-soaked as Bobby Lee battles the denizens of hell.

• Like This, But Funnier by Hallie Cantor. For fans of Dolly Alderton and Hacks. A TV writer married to a therapist steals her husband’s notes about his favorite patient and pitches a show. What could go wrong? The author’s writing credits include Arrested Development, Inside Amy Schumer, Lady Dynamite and Hulu’s Dollface. Her husband is … a therapist.

MAY

MEMOIR:

• The Land and Its People by David Sedaris. He excavates life’s layers more accurately than anyone and sees things we all see but didn’t realize we see, and says so in ways we didn’t think of saying. The essense of comedy greatness.

• The Sane One by Anna Konkle. A tragicomic odyssey through a tumultuous father-daughter relationship. If Father’s Day feels complicated, pick up this book. By the co-creator of the Hulu hit PEN15.

• All My Worldly Joy by Laura Richmond. The humor writer reveals an unexpected diagnosis and explores how a traumatic childbirth led to challenges, medical misunderstandings and insight into neurodivergency.

• Billy on Billy by Billy Eichner. Billy finally interviews Billy. Here’s how he got there and the people who showed up for him along the way. Breezy, fun, and surprisingly moving.

• Read This to Look Cool by Maeve Dunigan. It’s one of the most self-destructive human impulses: the endless urge to look cool. Maeve Dunigan is a comedian, writer and contributor to the New Yorker. These essays catalog the times that went well and especially the ones that didn’t (like hiding that she was in full blown appendix rupture at McDonalds because how would that look? Relating here.)

INTERSECTION OF COMEDY & LIFE:

• They Never Taught Us That by Andrea Forcum a/k/a “Educator Andrea.” The veteran teacher and nationally touring stand-up comedian shares anecdotes and hard-won wisdom in this guide to tamping down classroom pandemonium.

• The Husky and Handsome Guide to Grilling by Anthony Anderson & Cedric the Entertainer. A celebration of American barbecue. Recipes and adventures included. A companion to Hulu’s Kings of BBQ.

• Big Fan by Michael Schur & Joe Posnanski. Award-winning sportswriter Joe Posnanski teams up with his buddy Michael Schur—co-creator of Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine—on an international fan-fueled adventure, meeting devotees of everything from pickleball and chess to wrestling, Taylor Swift, and a multitude of left-field obsessions.

NOVEL:

• Phoebe Berman’s Gonna Lost It by Brooke Averick. All the ways anxiety shows up and how we learn to navigate. An early romantic disaster continues to haunt Phoebe at age thirty. Armed with her newly drafted “Guide to Losing My Virginity,” she feels like it’s time for a change. Unfortunately, anxiety has other ideas. From the co-host of Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast. Netflix recently acquired the rights.

COFFEE TABLE FLEX:

• Documentary Now with Seth Myers, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen & John Mulaney. This 600-page brick claims to be the “Fourth Expanded Edition,” but is it? This parody of hyper-serious movie criticism includes new commentary by special guests, plus tons of photos and quotes. I love the cover – the Grey Gardens episode was indeed a classic.

HISTORY:

• Funny Stuff by Laura LaPlaca & Ryan Lintelman. Carl Reiner’s toupee, Carrie Bradshaw’s laptop, Lenny Bruce’s typewriter, Carol Burnett’s “Went With the Wind” curtain-rod gown. The authors – curators of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY (Lucille Ball’s birthplace) and of the Smithsonian’s “Entertainment Nation” exhibit – present a comedy fan’s dream. It’s in-depth to the max, going way back in comedy history. Artifacts are gorgeously photographed and you’ll find extensive write-ups about their historical significance. Imagine this volume on your coffee table with Documentary Now! (above). Between these two tomes, no reason to leave the house ever.

JUNE

MEMOIR:

• Fully Baked by Rosebud Baker. Reviewers are sending bouquets. A candid take on addiction, family tragedy, motherhood and her unusual name. Did you know: Rosebud Baker is the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker.

• Walking Red Flag by Jared Freid. I am always WOWed by how fast Jared Freid’s shows sell out in Chicago. While this book is comedy, it’s also thoughtful and filled with sound advice for the love-scared and scarred.

• Something We Said by Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor. It took years for this Smith College history professor to feel comfortable disclosing her legendary family roots. She now reveals what it was like growing up the daughter of Richard Pryor and her relationship to some of his most iconic material.

• Kids Make Me Angry by Kevin Hart. In this 6.5-hour audiobook, Kevin Hart reflects on raising four children and the ways his own complicated dad influenced his parenting style.

• Good Damage by Trey Toler. Growing up gay in the south while navigating a parent’s medical crises as a teen laid the groundwork for a career in comedy and television. It turns out skills like reading the room and learning how to connect pay off at all stages of life, even when baptised by fire. He honed his standup skills at the iconic Laughing Skull in Atlanta.

• Peeing in an Empty Bottle: and Other Glamorous Shenanigans of an Almost-Famous Transgender Comedienne on the Road by Roz Hernandez. A cross-country road trip in a search for kindred spirits. This audiobook includes clips from her stand-up.

• The Unintentional Comedian by Kelli Houston. The author is a healthcare executive and comedian who leads with compassion.

• You Don’t Know Dick by Kristina Denton. Kristina Denton is a stand-up comedian, screenwriter and actor. This is the story of a surprise detour. This book may be the most unexpected comedian memoir of the year.

FICTION:

• Thrilling Tales of Modern Men by Danny McBride. Short stories from the creator and star of Eastbound & Down, The Righteous Gemstones and Vice Principals.
• Come Undone by Eddie Huang. From the author of Fresh Off the Boat. A traveling food show host has a strict relationship rule – after three months put a fork in it. It’s done. Until the day he decides to take a whisk with Anastasia.
• Palmdale by Kirk Fox. The comedian and actor (Parks and Recreation, Jury Duty) calls this Southern California tale “Dirtbag Noir.” A formerly estranged father and daughter reunite in the name of justice.

ADVICE COLUMN:

TV & SCREEN COMPANION BOOKS:

• Ferris Bueller … You’re My Hero by Jason Klamm. Ultimate hometown alert! Celebrating Ferris Bueller’s 40th anniversary – life moves fast! – this book includes 125 new, exclusive interviews and never before seen photos. For all the sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads, Camerons, Sloans and anyone ready for a summer adventure in Chicago. Did you know the movie’s story took place on June 5?  

• I Blame Television by Elizabeth Teets. This pop culture critic and comedian examines the ways television shaped her understanding of femininity, queerness, relationships, and adulthood and pushes back against our national plague of cynicism.

FIELD GUIDE:

COMEDY ADJACENT:

JULY

MEMOIR/BIOGRAPHY:

• The Mighty WMMR by Erin Riley. This Philadelphia radio station, home of the famous “Morning Zoo,” launched some of the biggest names in rock. Clay Heery, the founder of the Philadelphia stand-up scene, played a major role. WMMR was not just any station – it was “a perfect storm of the times, the culture, and the counterculture. The Mighty WMMR is a captivating look back at Philadelphia’s rock history and the station that shaped a city and a generation.”

• Futbol is Life by Cristo Fernández. The author is also known as Ted Lasso‘s Dani Rojas. This bilingual picture book is based on the real life story of how he fell in love with futbol as a child.

• I’m A Lot: Surviving Myself & All the People I’ve Been by Alison Leiby. A memoir in essays. Alison Leiby has written for Life & Beth, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The President Show. Bess Kalb calls her “the Jewish millenial David Sedaris.”

• Honolulu Blues by Joel Walkowski. Walkowski writes about his father’s autism and alcoholism, his own experiences with homelessness, his path to award-winning comedy, getting banned from Major League Baseball, and founding a nonprofit to support organ donation. In one more intriguing plot twist, the author’s bio reveals that he has a sauna in his living room.

• What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Hotter by Laura Clery. Chicago comedian alert! This Downers Grove native is known for her characters and sketches. Her new memoir pulls back the curtain on the shocking breakup of her marriage, single motherhood, parenting a special needs child, navigating all this and dating, too.

• Voice-a-Versa by Billy West. He’s the voice of Stimpy, and Doug Funnie, and, from Futurama: Philip J. Fry, Dr. Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan, and Professor Farnsworth. He also voiced Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd in 1996’s Space Jam and brought Popeye and Woody Woodpecker to life. How does he do it—especially given the trauma of his early years – when a career like this seemed out of reach?

BEHIND THE SCENES:

NOVEL:

COMEDY ADJACENT:

AUGUST

MEMOIR:

GUIDE TO LIFE:

SEPTEMBER

MEMOIRS:

• The A Word: A Mother’s Journey Through Autism and Love by Tisha Campbell. The comedian and sitcom star (Martin, My Wife and Kids) gives readers an authentic and often humorous portrait of life with her son Xen and and their experiences with autism and advocacy.

• Actually, Nevermind by Taylor Tomlinson. In a series of funny and moving essays, Taylor revisits her evolving views on food, body image, religion, sex, mental health, therapy, ghosts, morning people, and more as she approaches age 34 – an especially significant milestone as it’s the same age her mother was when she died.

• The World’s Worst Mom by Sona Movsesian. Her first book, The World’s Worst Assistant, covered Sona’s time as Conan O’Brien’s right-hand woman. She is now co-host of the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend and has taken on an even tougher role: mom to twins. This book is about the gap between the parent she imagined she’d be and the parent she actually is.

• Idle in Provence: A Brief History of Thyme by Eric Idle. The improbable story of a Python transforming a shack into a “shackeau.”

• Ms. American Dream by Patricia Williams-Lee. The author, better known as Ms. Pat, picks up where her first memoir Rabbit left off. From dropping out of eighth grade and raising two kids as a single mom in one of Atlanta’s poorest neighborhoods to a thriving comedy career in Los Angeles where even her doghouse has its own built-in washer and dryer, this is a story of rising above setbacks and defying expectations.

• Top of the Morgen! The Misadventures of an Irishman in Germany by Laurence Falconer. A romance inspires the author to move to Germany where he “throws himself into every possible blunder and misunderstanding that life abroad can offer.”

TV COMPANION:

FOR KIDS:

• Spells to Cast on Your Parents by Pete Holmes. Comedy + magic + spells to empower kids!

MULTI AWARD-WINNING HUMORIST:

COMEDY ADJACENT:

• They Spoke of the River by Judith Bowles. Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ mom is an accomplished poet. This is her third published collection. Find it at FinishingLinePress.com.

• Fictional Selves by Kyle MacLachlan. Known early on for dramatic roles in Dune, Blue Velvet, and The Doors, Kyle MacLachlan later revealed an unexpected comic side in Twin Peaks, Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives, and beyond.

• Roll the Calls by Ari Emanuel. He was the inspiration for Entourage‘s explosive, larger-than-life Ari Gold and now finally tells his own story. Ari Emanuel’s roster of clients has reportedly included Larry David, Conan O’Brien, Adam Sandler, Sacha Baron Cohen and Seth McFarlane. Non-comedy clients: Martin Scorsese, Aaron Sorkin, Oprah Winfrey, Charlize Theron, The Rock and many more. Originally from Chicago, Ari Emanuel started in the mailroom at CAA, overcame a learning disability, and worked his way up to become one of Hollywood’s most “accomplished, feared and funny deal-makers.” He now has some “stuff he wants to get off his chest.” True Chicago story: his dad was our pediatrician.

OCTOBER

MEMOIRS:

• Daphne & Me by Jane Leeves. A ballerina from humble beginnings, Jane Leeves went on to create one of the most unforgettable characters in sitcom history. There’s an unexpected love story, too.

• Emperor of Nothing: The Making of Larry David by Blake J. Harris. Five years of exclusive interviews with Larry David, his family, and collaborators.

• The Hardest Part of Schizophrenia is Spelling Schizophrenia by Byron Bowers. Byron Bowers’ father was a paranoid-schizophrenic visionary. His impact on his son, who dreamed of a big career in comedy, is something you don’t read about every day. Byron pursued that improbable dream, navigated a surreal Hollywood, and became a nationally touring headliner and actor.

• Charlie’s Boy by D.L. Hughley. D.L. Hughley’s much-anticipated memoir pays tribute to his father Charlie—a soft-spoken baggage handler at LAX who turned out not to be his bio-dad. Despite Charlie’s kindness, it was a turbulent childhood including his rageful mom, a rise through the ranks of an LA gang, and leaving home at a young age.

• Showbiz! My Life as a Middle-Aged Man by Murray Hill. Murray Hill’s own painful history inspired his passion for making the world a happier place for as many people as possible. That commitment was evident by the way he portrayed Fred Rococo in HBO’s Somebody Somewhere and comes through in his book, too.

• We Thought They’d Never Leave by Tony Shalhoub and Josie Adams. Tony Shalhoub and his daughter tell the story of their vibrant Lebanese American family and the “meals and mishaps” that have kept them together for generations.

• Sitcom by Chuck Lorre. From the publisher: “Lorre trades punchlines for real talk: the messy, very human truth behind Hollywood’s glossy façade, addiction, his own and that of his famous colleagues, his failed marriages, disastrous life choices, and chronic illness–all of which somehow became the ingredients for comedy.” Chuck Lorre is the creator of The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Young Sheldon, Bookie, Dharma & Greg, Mom and many more. Bonus note: This October 13, Chuck Lorre presents The Art of the Sitcom in Chicago at howtoacademy.com/north-america-events/chuck-lorre-the-art-of-the-sitcom/ at the Athenaeum.

• Nine Lives, No Wives, and 69 Concubines by Katt Williams. Self-made since leaving home at the age of thirteen, Katt Williams recounts a life marked by hardship, controversy, resilience, spirituality, and extraordinary success, all in his trademark unfiltered voice.

• Once Upon a Trainwreck by Christy Carlson Romano. As a star of Disney comedies Even Stevens, Kim Possible, and Cadet Kelly, Christy Carlson Romano seemed destined for lifelong success. Instead, years spent trying to please everyone left “Disney’s smart, serious girl” vulnerable to controlling relationships, a predatory psychic, and addiction.

CANADA IN THE U.S.:

ESSENTIAL GUIDES:

NOVEL:

COMEDY ADJACENT:

TV & SCREEN COMPANION BOOKS:

• Grand: The Autobiography of Gromit as told to Nick Park. This very good boy knows how to knit, bake, and garden. He also “knows where all the bones are buried.”

• Young Sheldon by Jessica Radloff. At face value, it seemed like a wholesome program about innocent times. In reality: the writers tackled taboo subjects, and there were controversies, heartbreak, anger and a show that became a worldwide phenomenon.

• The Dunder Mifflin Employee Manual: How to Succeed in Work―and Life―According to The Office – A Humorous Workplace Survival Guide by Brian Baumgartner, Ben Silverman & Warren Lieberstein. A guide for new college grads and anyone navigating the corporate world. Brian Baumgartner (Kevin) co-authored with two of the show’s producers. Cover not yet available.

• Funny Business by Matt Singer. From Second City and The Groundlings to SNL and a new golden age of comedy. Insider stories from films including The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Zoolander, Borat, Anchorman, Old School, and The Hangover. Also: who was left out of the boom and why?

NOVEMBER

MEMOIRS:

• We’re Having a Good Time (and other stories) by Dusty Slay. Dusty Slay lived many lives before standup: community college dropout and pesticide salesman for a decade while showing up drunk to open mics. After finding sobriety, his comedy took off. He’s now a beloved nationally touring headliner. This memoir-in-essays chronicles it all.

• 12 Guys Walk Into a Kitchen by Ryan Conner. Ryan Conner grew up one of twelve siblings in a multiracial household that included brothers adopted from Vietnam, China, and across the United States. He appeared on Last Comic Standing in 2015 opening with, “I have a huge family and we’re multiracial. I have 11 brothers. My parents got divorced when I was 2. My mom and stepdad have been together since I was 4. My stepdad is black. I have two black stepbrothers. I have four adopted brothers who are black. I have two Vietnamese brothers, one Chinese brother and two white brothers. Picture a college brochure. That’s the basic look of it.”

TV & SCREEN COMPANION

• Elf Unwrapped by Andy Richter. It was a terrible moment in elf-esteem. No one wanted this script … and then … ! Follow Elf‘s unlikely journey from rejected screenplay to holiday classic through exclusive interviews with Andy Richter, Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, director Jon Favreau, and other key players, plus previously untold stories and newly published photos.

• Book Meets World by Danielle Fischel, Rider Strong & Will Friedle. Danielle Fishel (Topanga), Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter), and Will Friedle (Eric Matthews) revisited every episode of Boy Meets World for their hit podcast, sharing behind-the-scenes memories and fresh perspectives. This book gathers those stories in one place while adding even more reflections, anecdotes, insights, and photos.

COMEDY ADJACENT:

From Mic to Memoir: 2025’s Best & Boldest Comedy Books to Read and Gift

Wanting to catch up on your TBR List? Check out last year’s guide here for some more great comedy books to read!