Comedy books
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned regular at the back of the room, there is always something to learn from those who have already done the hard yards.
While genuine "how-to" guides are rare, I’ve found that autobiographies and industry memoirs often hold the real wealth of knowledge.
To make this easier to navigate, I’ve split my recommendations into two categories:
- Educational: Books designed to teach the mechanics of the craft.
- Biographical & Fictional: Stories about the life, the hustle, and the industry.
Comedy is deeply subjective, and that goes double for writing and teaching styles. I’ve included everything from my personal favorites to books that I did not enjoy.
Just because I did not enjoy or get much from it does not mean you won't. I have also listed some books I have seen suggested that I have not read yet.
Education:
Mastering Stand-Up: The Complete Guide to Becoming a Successful Comedian
Stephen Rosenfield
The best all over book for getting into stand-up, the lifestyle, writing, and business.
There is even an audiobook version for it
Finding Your Comic Genius: An in-depth guide to the art of stand-up comedy
Adam Bloom
The best book on comedy writing and stand-up.
The NEW Comedy Bible: The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Performing Stand-Up Comedy
Judy Carter
Kinda basic, I think it's just the most well known book.
Step by Step Stand up comedy
Greg Dean
I hate the style of the book and stopped it early, check it out for yourself.
How to Kill in Comedy
Steve North
The hidden Tools of Comedy: The Serious Business of Being Funny
Steve Kaplan
Poking a Dead Frog: Conversations with Today's top comedy writers
Mike Sacks
How to Write Funny: Your Serious, Step-By-Step Blueprint For Creating Incredibly, Irresistibly, Successfully Hilarious Writing
Scott Dikkers
Other:
I'm Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-Up Comedy's Golden Era
William Knoedelsder
Great book about the mid 1970s, it's a very good insight into Los Angeles, the way many comics lived and still live.
Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life
Steve Martin
Decent book on Steve Martin with how he got into standup and his life.
Brain Droppings
George Carlin
I like Carlin and I hate this books style, not for me. You can see the style it is written in very quickly, pick it up and give it a chance to see if it fits for you
Is this anything?
Jerry Seinfeld
This was one of the first books I started to read for comedy, this one really opned up my understanding of how you might just write down an idea or a bit and wonder "Is this something"
Not really a book you would sit down and read each page, but I felt it was a nice eye opener for me.
Dirty Jokes and Beer: Stories of the Unrefined
Drew Carey
Kind of all over the place autobiography, short book though
Based on a True Story: A Memoir
Norm Macdonald
If you like Norm Macdonald humor check this out, if you do not I would avoid this book.
It's kind of strange, I did not always love the whole ghost writer bits but some of the other stuff I liked a lot. It's a book.
A Very Punchable Face
Colin Jost
I don't like SNL, but this book was well written and entertaining. It is strange how often Colin shits his own pants.
Tremendous: The Life of a Comedy Savage
Joey Diaz
This biography is insane, the childhood section has so much going on. It's a very interesting read for me, detailing the good and a lot of the bad that Joey did as well as he navigates his life to get into stand-up and where he is now.
Running the Light
Sam Tallent
Fun fictional book, I hate the main character the whole way through.
I can't make this up: Life Lessons
Kevin Hart
Fun bio
SeinLanguage
Jerry Seinfeld
Before and laughter
Jimmy Carr
Entrances and Exists
Michael Richards
Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me
Whoopi Goldberg
Bossypants
Tina Fey
Leslie F* cking Jones
Leslie Jones
Digging up Mother: A love story
Doug Stanhope