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.
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.
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.
#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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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