10 Books for When You Need a Good Laugh

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

A true classic in southern literature, A Confederacy of Dunces is a hilarious depiction of life in New Orleans through the viewpoint of an unambitious-but-educated, slothful-yet-enterprising individual named Ignatius J. Reilly. His trials and tribulations are constantly landing him in the most absurd of situations. The book is a representation of the laissez-faire way of life, which is pervasive down south.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Born a Crime is punctuated with very serious moments of desperation, violence, and more, but it’s a true testament to Trevor Noah’s comedic story-telling prowess. He’s incredible at interweaving important historical moments with side-splitting commentary that gets at the crux of an issue. It’s a deeply personal story that illuminates South African history and culture.

We Are Never Meeting in Real Life: Essays by Samantha Irby

The title sets the stage for the type of characters portrayed throughout all her essays. Throughout the 20 essays, she paints a cold, cranky, sassy woman who has it all figured out and yet cannot seem to maintain solid relationships with anyone. If you really want a laugh, check out her blog, Bitches Gotta Eat, as well.

The World According to Garp by John Irving

This book has a lot of serious and sorrowful topics as well, but it should nevertheless be considered a comedic relief — particularly if you value semi-dark humor. The book is a compassionate tale of a bastard child, T.S. Garp, who becomes a novelist and must deal with the many absurdities that life throws at him.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

You might’ve seen the movie, but the book is, of course, so much better. Absurd and surreal, the book defies logic and sense, making it a unique classic (no wonder it’s withstood the test of time!).

Pushcart Prize XLI: Best of the Small Presses 2017 Edited by Bill Henderson

The Pushcart Prizes (American literary prizes) are awarded every year to the best reads published by small presses. Mostly from magazine and small book presses, the compilations of stories are often thought-provoking, ethereal, and nothing short of magical. The 2017 compilation was particularly inspired; we loved If You Can’t Say Anything Nice, Write a One-Star Review and The Mushroom Queen.

I Was Told There’d Be Cake: Essays by Sloane Crosley

Another book of short stories, these center around the traps and travesties of young urban life. Very similar to David Sedaris’ voice and work, Sloane Crosley is genuine and her stories are extremely relatable. It covers mishaps in museums, troubles with bosses, and confrontations with neighbors in the most honest and hilarious way.

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae

Rae details her upbringing and trips to Senegal, where her father is from, in a very honest way. She talks in depth about her sexual desires as a young girl, her fascination and experimentation with the internet, and her complicated but loving relationship with her family. If you’ve seen her HBO show Insecure, then you know that she has a knack for comedy writing.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

Consider this the sarcastic, off-center response to the best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. Its language is vulgar and crude (hopefully you’re not easily offended), but its core message is cool — find what’s truly important to you and let everything else go. It packs a lot of comedic punches along the way, too.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

If you binge-watched 30 Rock Saturday Night Live, this is the book for you. Fey shares some of her life’s most memorable moments though sharp, clever, and hilarious writing. You’ll find yourself laughing out loud at her self-deprecating and very candid tone as she recounts her childhood “nerd” days, nearly fatal honeymoon, and everything in between.

xx, The FabFitFun Team