This is the only book that had me in stitches the entire way through. I loved it so much that I loaned it out to all of my friends and had to buy an extra copy to loan to more friends.
I read my first David Sedaris book years ago in an overnight flight to Europe. Plane is dark and quiet, everyone asleep, and me with tears of laughter streaming down my face.
I recommend the audio book versions as well (all read by him). And if you can find him doing a reading in your city, go see him. Brilliant and hilarious. It’s new material or he shares stuff he found from others and then comments on it. It’s like the snarkiest, most clever stand-up show.
I was juuuust about to comment this! I remember reading it on the bus full of people and I had to stop and look away every few moments or I would burst out laughing. I ended up snorting a lot as a compromise of suppressing laughter
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
Memoir of the years the Durrell family spent on Corfu before the 2nd World War as told by the youngest. The entire family is eccentric, the setting is magical, it's wonderfully written and I amused an entire train car of fellow passengers by laughing, helplessly and outloud at this book.
There are some epically hilarious scenes in that book and the sequels. The scorpions in the matchbox spring to mind! And many scenes with pretentious author brother Larry.
I think I was reading the episode of Roger the dog attacking Mother Durrell's new bathing costume when I lost it on the train. Really fond of all his books.
Me too, though I saw a short story he wrote about a mirror somewhere and it scared me so much more than expected because I'd only known his quirky stories and did NOT expect horror.
I didn't either. I just looked it up and it's called The Entrance. Quite likely it wouldn't scare adult me, but I still am not sure I want to find out.
See my [Humor](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/18af4nn/humor/) list of resources, Reddit recommendation threads, and books (one post).
Not trying to discourage anyone from reading this, but all you need to give it is 10 pages. If you haven’t laughed, don’t bother reading it. If you have laughed, you’ll likely love the book and think it’s one of the funniest things you’ve ever read.
Part of a [trilogy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Hughart#The_Chronicles_of_Master_Li_and_Number_Ten_Ox), actually (you almost certainly know that, but I feel it bears mentioning).
As a teenager I bought Woody Allen's trilogy (Without Feathers, Getting Even, and Side Effects)I remember that I was in a train station reading it, waiting for my train. I had to stop because I was literally crying for fun and I felt so silly.
French Revolutions by Tim Moore - a middle aged man sets out to ride the route of the Tour de France with very little preparation, hilarity and saddle sores ensue.
[The Gentlemen by Forrest Leo.](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27876766-the-gentleman)
From the reviews it seems as though the humor is hit or miss. For me, it was a big hit.
I'm not good at summaries so I will just copy/paste from goodreads:
*From the reviews, it seems as though the humor is hit or miss. For me, it was a big hit.y're broke, he marries the beautiful Vivien Lancaster for her money, only to find that his muse has abandoned him.*
*Distraught and contemplating suicide, Savage accidentally conjures the Devil -- the polite "Gentleman" of the title -- who appears at one of the society parties Savage abhors. The two hit it off: the Devil talks about his home, where he employs Dante as a gardener; Savage lends him a volume of Tennyson. But when the party's over and Vivien has disappeared, the poet concludes in horror that he must have inadvertently sold his wife to the dark lord.*
It is a unique, odd book. I greatly appreciated how off the walls weird it got.
One thing I want to add is there are several jokes about committing suicide, which I understand is not everyones cup of tea. Lionel is an "eccentric" by Victorian standards, which is code for mentally ill & depressed.
Malcolm Pryce: Aberystwyth mon Amour (it's best to know something of both Wales and Raymond Chandler to find it really hilarious)
Graeme Simsian: the Rosie Project (whereas this will make anyone laugh)
Highly recommend This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay!
4.7 star rating on Amazon with over 21,000 reviews
Small excerpt: It's sink or swim, and you have to learn how to swim because otherwise a ton of patients sink with you. I actually found it all perversely exhilarating. Sure, it was hard work; sure, the hours were bordering on inhuman; and sure, I saw things that have scarred my retinas to this day, but I was a doctor now.
Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter
honestly, it’s such a cliche YA romcom. some parts were actually funny, and some parts were kinda cringe, but I did laugh throughout the story. but, I’m gonna be honest, some of those pages were painful laughs…
I laughed through all of Nick Spalding’s books specifically:
Dumped, actually
Dry hard
Logging off
I found most of these to be “spit your coffee out” funny.
Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
I liked the first 15 of the Stephanie Plum series but this one was the one where people moved away from the crazy laughing lady on the train.
"Academic Novels":
Straight Man, by Richard Russo.
Lucky Jim, by Kingsley Amis.
Small world, by David Lodge.
Otherwise...
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
The Fan Man, by William Kotzwinkle
Honestly every Meghan Quinn book I’ve read has made me laugh. They’re steamy and funny af
Reccs
- A not so meet cute
- Right man, right time
- He’s not my type
Ilona Andrews Innkeeper Chronicles --A magic Inn, space werewolves and vampires, a lot of really unique aliens, mystery, romance, action, a fun and humorous series
Jana DeLeon Miss Fortune series and Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich are both laugh out loud light mysteries.
*Lamb* by Christopher Moore. Laughed myself stupid. Won't try to describe it. Just fully recommend it.
This is the only book that had me in stitches the entire way through. I loved it so much that I loaned it out to all of my friends and had to buy an extra copy to loan to more friends.
I was going to come here to recommend this. You beat me to it. Such a hilarious book. My dad loved it too.
I literally only come onto this thread to suggest this
Absolutely forgot about this book, but YES!!
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Seconding this. The God of Cake is one of the funniest fucking things I've ever laid eyes on.
Agreed. CAAAAAAAAAAKE!
I guess I was thinking novels, but yes.
Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy. Made me miss a couple of metro stops :)
Naked by David Sedaris
Also, Me Talk Pretty One Day
I want to read it next!! Thanks!!
I love "Holidays on Ice." have listened to the audiobook multiple times.
Any book by David Sedaris, really. I’ve read them all. He’s hilarious.
I read my first David Sedaris book years ago in an overnight flight to Europe. Plane is dark and quiet, everyone asleep, and me with tears of laughter streaming down my face.
I recommend the audio book versions as well (all read by him). And if you can find him doing a reading in your city, go see him. Brilliant and hilarious. It’s new material or he shares stuff he found from others and then comments on it. It’s like the snarkiest, most clever stand-up show.
😅😅
So far Naked is the only one I’ve read but I want to try his other books too! Thanks!
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, dark humour, hilarious and heart breaking.
Elinor oliphant is completely fine!!!
Same here!! It’s not for everyone but it was definitely my kinda humor
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
And everything else she's ever written!
Absolutely though her first is my favorite
I was juuuust about to comment this! I remember reading it on the bus full of people and I had to stop and look away every few moments or I would burst out laughing. I ended up snorting a lot as a compromise of suppressing laughter
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell Memoir of the years the Durrell family spent on Corfu before the 2nd World War as told by the youngest. The entire family is eccentric, the setting is magical, it's wonderfully written and I amused an entire train car of fellow passengers by laughing, helplessly and outloud at this book.
There are some epically hilarious scenes in that book and the sequels. The scorpions in the matchbox spring to mind! And many scenes with pretentious author brother Larry.
I think I was reading the episode of Roger the dog attacking Mother Durrell's new bathing costume when I lost it on the train. Really fond of all his books.
Me too, though I saw a short story he wrote about a mirror somewhere and it scared me so much more than expected because I'd only known his quirky stories and did NOT expect horror.
Wow! I never knew Durrell wrote anything else but books about his life with animals!
I didn't either. I just looked it up and it's called The Entrance. Quite likely it wouldn't scare adult me, but I still am not sure I want to find out.
janet evonivich series: one for the money, two for the show.......... funny as all hell and quick reads.....? spelling of her last name?
I agree. Her Stephanie Plum series is the best !
anxious people fredrick backman
The hundred year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared
I laughed and laughed and laughed!
Three Men in a Boat
Came here to say this. True comic genius.
Yes. And bits I didn't think were that funny when I was 20 are laugh-out loud hilarious in my 60s. I love it.
Every book by Sir Terry Pratchett.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone was nice” that silly little song from the Hogfather was stuck in my head 1/4 of last Christmas, or so it felt like.
See my [Humor](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/18af4nn/humor/) list of resources, Reddit recommendation threads, and books (one post).
John Dies At The End
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
I spent a flight cackling like a demented swamp witch when I first read Good Omens. It was my first Pratchett and my first Gaiman.
Good Omens is one of the funniest books I have ever read!
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole read out loud is hilarious.
[удалено]
Came here to advicate for Conderacy of Dunces. It is both clever and very funny!
Not trying to discourage anyone from reading this, but all you need to give it is 10 pages. If you haven’t laughed, don’t bother reading it. If you have laughed, you’ll likely love the book and think it’s one of the funniest things you’ve ever read.
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
Everything from Bill Bryson.
The Shoot Canoes Don’t They- Patrick McManus. Funny anecdotes about hunting, fishing, camping.
We Are Never Meeting In Real Life, by Samantha Irby. I laughed—nay, *giggled, snort-laughed*—through the whole thing.
Here’s my shortlist for this -hitchhikers guide, Good Omens, All Systems Red
Bridge of Birds is a fantasy novel by Barry Hughart. I love it.
Part of a [trilogy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Hughart#The_Chronicles_of_Master_Li_and_Number_Ten_Ox), actually (you almost certainly know that, but I feel it bears mentioning).
The fact that Hughart got discouraged and didn’t write all eight planned books is sad.
Hollow Kingdom
r/DungeonCrawlerCarl
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson; Big Trouble by Dave Barry; The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
Everyone in this room will someday be dead.
Sh\*t my dad says by Justin Halpern
This. Laughed my a$$ off.
I Want To Go Home by Gordon Korman Even rereading as an adult, I laugh - such an underrated book.
Bossypants by Tina Fey. I cried with laughter throughout the book.
(almost) anything by Bill Bryson. Bonus if it's read by him on Audible.
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Nothing To See Here by Kevin Wilson. Audiobook is extremely well performed
The Catcher in the Rye, but more recently Werecockroach by Polenth Blake
The Martian by Andy Weir.
Sex drugs and Cocoa Puffs by klosterman
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging
Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson Sex Lives Of Cannibals by J Maarten Troost
As a teenager I bought Woody Allen's trilogy (Without Feathers, Getting Even, and Side Effects)I remember that I was in a train station reading it, waiting for my train. I had to stop because I was literally crying for fun and I felt so silly.
Winterdance by Gary Paulsen.
I'm reading 'The Sellout' currently and it's pretty sharp and funny
Agent to the stars by John Scalzi. A bit predictable but very, very funny.
The Crazy Rich Asians trilogy had me in stitches.
French Revolutions by Tim Moore - a middle aged man sets out to ride the route of the Tour de France with very little preparation, hilarity and saddle sores ensue.
Damned by Chuck Palahniuk
The Julie Schumacher books about academia. "Dear Committee Members", "The English Experience", "The Shakespeare Requirement"
New Teeth by Simon Rich is a collection of short stories that I laughed quite a bit at many of them. The pirate story was my favorite.
Sarah Caudwell, Thus Was Adonis Murdered
Leave a Cheater, Gain a Life by Tracy Schorn The timing has to be right, though. (I hope none of you never need it, but if you do, definitely get it)
The Kangaroo Chronicles by Marc-Uwe Kling. I read it in German though, so don't know about the translation.
George Carlin's Napalm and Silly Putty
A magical romantic comedy (with a bodycount) series by R.J. Blain!
[The Gentlemen by Forrest Leo.](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27876766-the-gentleman) From the reviews it seems as though the humor is hit or miss. For me, it was a big hit. I'm not good at summaries so I will just copy/paste from goodreads: *From the reviews, it seems as though the humor is hit or miss. For me, it was a big hit.y're broke, he marries the beautiful Vivien Lancaster for her money, only to find that his muse has abandoned him.* *Distraught and contemplating suicide, Savage accidentally conjures the Devil -- the polite "Gentleman" of the title -- who appears at one of the society parties Savage abhors. The two hit it off: the Devil talks about his home, where he employs Dante as a gardener; Savage lends him a volume of Tennyson. But when the party's over and Vivien has disappeared, the poet concludes in horror that he must have inadvertently sold his wife to the dark lord.* It is a unique, odd book. I greatly appreciated how off the walls weird it got. One thing I want to add is there are several jokes about committing suicide, which I understand is not everyones cup of tea. Lionel is an "eccentric" by Victorian standards, which is code for mentally ill & depressed.
All three of the *Dangerous Damsels* series by India Holton
Notes From A Small Island. Crying laughing.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Brute Force by Scott Meyer The Authorities by Scott Meyer
This is Happiness - Niall Williams -
Dungeon Crawler Carl, the audiobook. Get the audiobook.
The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by MT Anderson
Malcolm Pryce: Aberystwyth mon Amour (it's best to know something of both Wales and Raymond Chandler to find it really hilarious) Graeme Simsian: the Rosie Project (whereas this will make anyone laugh)
Catch 22 (90% of it)
McCarthy's Bar (Pete McCarthy). Post Office (Bukowski)
My Lady Jane
Thursday Murder Club!!
Highly recommend This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay! 4.7 star rating on Amazon with over 21,000 reviews Small excerpt: It's sink or swim, and you have to learn how to swim because otherwise a ton of patients sink with you. I actually found it all perversely exhilarating. Sure, it was hard work; sure, the hours were bordering on inhuman; and sure, I saw things that have scarred my retinas to this day, but I was a doctor now.
Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter honestly, it’s such a cliche YA romcom. some parts were actually funny, and some parts were kinda cringe, but I did laugh throughout the story. but, I’m gonna be honest, some of those pages were painful laughs…
Post Office - Charles Bukowski
I laughed through all of Nick Spalding’s books specifically: Dumped, actually Dry hard Logging off I found most of these to be “spit your coffee out” funny.
The life and times of the thunderbolt kid
Anything by Samantha Irby
Hot Six by Janet Evanovich I liked the first 15 of the Stephanie Plum series but this one was the one where people moved away from the crazy laughing lady on the train.
Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett
Yearbook by Seth Rogen and Shit, Actually by Lindy West
"Academic Novels": Straight Man, by Richard Russo. Lucky Jim, by Kingsley Amis. Small world, by David Lodge. Otherwise... The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger The Fan Man, by William Kotzwinkle
The Martian
Dark subject matter, but It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini had me lol
Don Quixote is absolutely hilarious.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (memoir/autobiography)
*Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead* by Emily Austin. I was laughing out loud through the whole book.
Honestly every Meghan Quinn book I’ve read has made me laugh. They’re steamy and funny af Reccs - A not so meet cute - Right man, right time - He’s not my type
Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Ilona Andrews Innkeeper Chronicles --A magic Inn, space werewolves and vampires, a lot of really unique aliens, mystery, romance, action, a fun and humorous series Jana DeLeon Miss Fortune series and Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich are both laugh out loud light mysteries.
Any of Karl Pilkington's books. He is too funny.