Biblio File

Summer Reads by Funny Women

Summer is in full swing, and while this particular summer has been different, we are still entitled to a good read and a good laugh! (But please keep your mask on when you laugh out loud if you're reading in the park or at the beach!)

These are just a few of our favorite memoirs and essay collections by funny women. Check them out using our grab-and-go service or as e-books on our SimplyE app.

Cover of Book - Tiffany Haddish, a Black woman smiles widely, posing against a turquoise background while wearing a black lace pantsuit. She holds her long hair in her right hand.

The Last Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish

Finally poised to become a household name, she recounts with heart and humor how she came from nothing and nowhere to achieve her dreams by owning, sharing, and using her pain to heal others. By turns hilarious, filthy, and brutally honest, The Last Black Unicorn shows the world who Tiffany Haddish really is—humble, grateful, down-to-earth, and funny as hell. And now, she's ready to inspire others through the power of laughter.

 

 

 

Cover of Book - Carol Burnett, a white woman with short light brown hair, poses slightly smiling in a white turtleneck sweater.

This Time Together by Carol Burnett

In engaging anecdotes, Carol discusses her remarkable friendships with stars such at Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, and Julie Andrews; her television show that won twenty-five Emmys in its remarkable eleven-year run; and the sorrows that she overcame with her irresistible humor.

 

 

 

Cover of book - Nicole Byer, a Black woman wearing a lavender wig and a purple swimsuit, and purple heels, poses crouching in front of a purple background.

#VeryFat #Very Brave by Nicole Byer

The actress, comedian, and podcaster extraordinaire's guide to being a #brave, bikini-wearing badass. If you've ever seen a fat person post a bikini shot on social media, you already know that they are #verybrave, because apparently existing in a fat body in public is #brave.

 

 

 

Yes Please book cover

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

The actress best known for her work on Parks and Recreation and Saturday Night Live reveals personal stories and offers her humorous take on such topics as love, friendship, parenthood, and her relationship with Tina Fey.

 

 

 

 

Cover of Book - Tina Fey, a white woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a white button-down shirt, also wearing a bowler hat, poses in front of a peach colored background. Her arms are replaced by masculine arms with lots of arm hair.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live; from her passionately halfhearted pursuit of physical beauty to her life as a mother eating things off the floor; from her one-sided college romance to her nearly fatal honeymoon, comedian Tina Fey reveals all, and proves that you're no one until someone calls you bossy.

 

 

 

 

Cover of Book - Ali Wong, an Asian woman wearing a long pink, sequin dress with one sleeve, reclines in a pink chair against a green backdrop. She pretends to be sleeping.

Dear Girls by Ali Wong

Ali Wong shares the wisdom she's learned from a life in comedy and reveals stories from her life off stage, including the brutal singles life in New York (i.e. the inevitable confrontation with erectile dysfunction), reconnecting with her roots (and drinking snake blood) in Vietnam, tales of being a wild child growing up in San Francisco, and parenting war stories. Though addressed to her daughters, Ali Wong's letters are absurdly funny, surprisingly moving, and enlightening (and disgusting) for all.

 

 

Cover of Book - Mindy Kaling, an Indian-American woman, poses with a perplexed expression. She wears a pink long sleeve shirt and poses against floral wallpaper.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns by Mindy Kaling

Kaling shares her observations, fears, and opinions about a wide-ranging list of the topics she thinks about the most. From her favorite types of guys to life in the The Office writers' room, her book is full of personal stories and laugh-out-loud philosophies.

 

 

 

 

Cover of Book - Sarah Silverman, a white woman with brown hair in a knot on top of her head, wears a Sargent Pepper army jacket. She poses with a serious expression against an orange background.

The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption and Pee by Sarah Silverman

Comedian Silverman's memoir that mixes showbiz moments with the more serious subject of her teenage bout with depression as well as stories of her childhood and adolescence.

 

 

 

 

 

Cover of Book - Phoebe Robinson, a Black woman wearing pink lipstick, a dark colored tank top with a curly semi-bleached Afro, poses against a pale blue background. The title and sub-title of the book is situated above her.

You Can’t Touch My Hair, and Other Things I Still Have to Explain by Phoebe Robinson

Being a Black woman in American means contending with old prejudices and fresh absurdities. Robinson uses her trademark wit to explore and examine our cultural climate and skewer our biases with humor and heart. A hilarious and affecting essay collection about race, gender, and pop culture from celebrated stand-up comedian and WNYC podcaster Phoebe Robinson.

 

 

 


Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.