Humor

Starting where Theft by Finding left off, the sultan of subtle humor, David Sedaris, presents the last 15 years of his personal diaries. Walking the line between silly and serious, Sedaris’s series of short, memorable pieces focus on the important things in life, like secret planets, thieving monkeys, and voyeuristic spiders. Reading the punchy entries not only gives insight into Sedaris’s mind; it also shows aspiring writers of creative nonfiction the discipline it takes to become an icon. —Aric

Stand-up comedian, author, creator of her own book imprint, and cohost of the podcast 2 Dope Queens, Phoebe Robinson is building a “mini empire” and is deservedly proud of it. Despite her many accomplishments, she somehow found time to write this latest collection of essays. Robinson’s writing is intimate, and reading Please Don’t Sit On My Bed in Your Outside Clothes felt like catching up with a good friend over drinks. While she discusses many topics that are light and fun, she also takes the time to delve deeper, particularly when discussing her thoughts and experiences of being a Black woman in America. This book is the perfect blend of entertaining, educational, and funny. —Jade

So, George Saunders, Jeff Tweedy, and Nick Offerman go hiking in the woods… I feel like there’s a punchline coming, or perhaps just the beginning to the best book ever on life in the great outdoors. His adventures in Glacier National Park with these two besties are worth the price of entry alone, but followed by a visit with British shepherd James Rebanks and an RV road trip with wife, Megan Mullally, and I’m giggling Ron Swanson-style over here. There’s so much more to say about Offerman’s humor, observations, and curiosity, but really, need I? —Melinda

When anxiety strikes and your therapist is booked, your yoga mat is missing, and a walk around the block is not going to do it, escape to the bathroom for some cocoon-like comfort and a good giggle. A Bathroom Book is a funny, illustrated, and functional meditation guide, perfect for anyone who enjoys the distraction of a deep thought with a hint of sarcasm. —Jenny

Lucky for us, Jerry Seinfeld has been meticulous about saving his written comedy bits over the course of his career and he’s selected his favorites for this generous collection. Organized by the five decades that his time doing Seinfeld and stand-up spans, it treats us to gem after gem of observational humor, as well as inside moments of the life and process of one of our greatest performers. A perfect gift—this book could not come at a better moment. — Melinda

Allie Brosh has returned! Childhood shenanigans, stories of dogs, anecdotes of life’s weirdness abound, and reveal with aching (and hilarious) vulnerability the health crisis, heartbreak, tragedy, depression, grief, and existential ennui that led to her Internet disappearance in 2013. It also goes into the fortitude to survive some of the worst things the world can throw at you, or that you can throw at yourself. Allie Brosh has survived and is finding her way, with a snicker and pencil-drawn cartoons, and will help you survive, too. — Jocelyn

Meichi Ng’s smart, funny, honest book of illustrated personal essays captures all the feels of growing up and finding one’s place in adulthood. Full of absurdity, awareness, and universal truths in all their most comic, most awkward, most endearing forms, this sweet little blue blob of non-gendered protagonist is a great storyteller, an emotional touchstone, and my new best friend. Perfect for fans of Allie Brosh and Jomny Sun or anyone in need of a humorous dose of youthful tenderness. — Melinda

What do you get when you combine Steve Martin’s quirky humor with New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss’s iconic illustrations? So much joy, a welcome escape, quite literally something for everyone. A Wealth of Pigeons is both a delightful collection of cartoons and the story of their collaboration in comic strip form. It exudes warmth and humanity—a singular treasure to be enjoyed on repeat. — Melinda

I don’t remember the last time I’ve hugged a book so much. A wonderful combination of history, trivia (like did you know how the gift card industry influenced aspects of the cover art?), social commentary, and art design, all tied together in over-the-top covers and seemingly ridiculous plots. Perfect for fans of horror and sci-fi, this book will make your wish list grow exponentially. - Rachel

If you’ve ever seen Wong’s stand-up, you already know how freaking amazing she is. What you might not know, but will by the end of the book, is: exactly what to steal from the hospital when you give birth, the best street food in Vietnam, and how to trap the love of your life into doing chores. You’ll also learn a lot about how to handle loss and how to work hard and kick ass at life while owning who you are and where you come from. - Jax