Performing Arts

Superstar comedian and Hollywood box-office star Kevin Hart turns his immense talent to the written word by writing some words. Some of those words include: the, a, for, above, and even even. Put them together and you have the funniest, most heartfelt, and most inspirational memoir on survival, success, and the importance of believing in yourself since Old Yeller.

A cutting satire of race relations in the age of Trump and Black Lives Matter from the hugely popular comedian—one of "The Original Kings of Comedy"—and author of the New York Times bestseller Black Man, White House. "White people are always giving out ‘helpful’ advice, such as...

Richard Pryor journeys from his childhood in a family that worked in whore-houses and bars, through to his years in Hollywood - the money, the women, the drugs - and the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

The greats of comedy, when they were young and struggling, performing their great early routines.

The film, television, and comedy legend tells the hilarious and moving story of how tough love, and a sense of humor made him the man he is today By the tender age of five, Bernie Mac had found his calling: making others laugh. He has since become the star and cocreator of Fox’s hit sitcom The...

NATIONAL BESTSELLER Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Featured on Today From the creator of Elle’s “Eric Reads the News,” a heartfelt and hilarious memoir-in-essays about growing up seeing the world differently, finding unexpected hope, and experiencing every awkward...

Scottie Price just started a new job and it's a real sausage fest. She's the only woman on a team filled with Brads and Chads. Expecting a bachelor pad atmosphere, she is quickly corrected when she finds out everyone is happily married.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER More than one million copies sold! A “brilliant” (Lupita Nyong’o, Time), “poignant” (Entertainment Weekly), “soul-nourishing” (USA Today) memoir about coming of age during the twilight of apartheid “Noah’s childhood stories are told with all the...

“Short’s endearing memoir is, of course, funny, but it’s also a rare thing: the tale of a genuine human being who’s thrived on planet Hollywood.” — Washington Post In this engagingly witty, wise, and heartfelt memoir, Martin Short tells the tale of how a showbiz-obsessed kid from...

Comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff brings to life a century of American comedy with real-life characters, forgotten stars, mainstream heroes and counterculture iconoclasts....

Steve Martin's riveting, mega-bestselling, beloved, and highly acclaimed memoir of a life, a vocation, and an era—named one of the ten best nonfiction titles of the year by Time and Entertainment Weekly. In the mid-seventies, Steve Martin exploded onto the comedy scene. By 1978 he was the...

From a beloved comedy critic, a wisecracking, heartfelt, and overdue chronicle of comedy’s boom—and its magic....

When first published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, Live from New York was immediately proclaimed the best book ever produced on the landmark and legendary late-night show. In their own words, unfiltered and uncensored, a dazzling galaxy of trail-blazing talents...

“A close look at how show business power corrupts . . . The dishiest read of the year.” – Janet Maslin, “Ten Favorite Books of the Year,” New York Times “Here’s Johnny!” Probably everyone in America knows the phrase, whether they watched every episode of The Tonight Show or none...

This program includes a prologue and epilogue read by the author. From New York Times culture reporter Dave Itzkoff, comes the definitive audiobook biography of Robin Williams – a compelling portrait of one of America’s most beloved and misunderstood entertainers. From his rapid-fire...

In this “essential” (Entertainment Weekly), “hilarious” (AV Club) memoir, the star of Mr. Show, Breaking Bad, and Better Call Saul opens up about the highs and lows of showbiz, his cult status as a comedy writer, and what it’s like to reinvent himself as an action film ass-kicker at...

'Stand-up comedy raised me. It taught me all the skills I need for life, except tax accounting.' 'Very, very funny - a great read' Gary Davies, The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show 'Riveting' Daily Mail 'An utterly sincere guide for people to achieve bigger things in life' Guardian Cheaper than...

The thinking person's comic who uses words as weapons, George Carlin shares all-new, cutting-edge opinion and observational humor in this best seller. Carlin demolishes everyday values and leaves you laughing out loud. Learn what he thinks of sports fans, how he would improve the TV networks...

In this side-splitting memoir, the former Saturday Night Live star recounts the hilarious adventures and unexpected joy of dating and becoming a mother when she least expected it-at the age of forty-four. Anyone who saw an episode of Saturday Night Live between 1999 and 2006 knows Rachel Dratch...

The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual is a comprehensive guide to the UCB style of long form comedy improvisation. Written by UCB founding members Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh, the manual covers everything from the basics of two person scene work (with a heavy...

From the bestselling author of Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy, the definitive biography of John Candy—a heartwarming portrait of one of comedy's most beloved and enduring stars. From his humble beginnings in sketch comedy with the Toronto branch of Second City, to his rise to fame in SCTV and...

A hilarious and biting memoir from the actor, comedian and Saturday Night Live alumni David Spade. David Spade is best known for his harsh “Hollywood” Minute Sketches on SNL, his starring roles in movies like Joe Dirt and Tommy Boy, and his seven-year stint as Dennis Finch on the series Just...

“The finest, most moving and powerful memoir I have ever read.”—MAYIM BIALIK Rising young comedian Moshe Kasher is lucky to be alive. He started using drugs when he was just 12. At that point, he had already been in psychoanlysis for 8 years. By the time he was 15, he had been in and out...

Brought to you by Penguin. THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Packed with hard-won wisdoms and gentle truths, this is Miranda’s honest exploration of the lessons she has learned on her journey from illness to recovery. Hello to you, I am with news. I have a new book: I Haven’t Been Entirely...

The woman behind the icon known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the undisputed Queen of Halloween, reveals her full story filled with intimate bombshells—told by the bombshell herself. On Good Friday in 1953, at only 18 months old, 25 miles from the nearest hospital in Manhattan, Kansas...

Outsider. Misfit. Criminal. Convict. . . . Movie star. Family man. Comedy legend. Joey Diaz has been called every name in the book (and then some). Now, for the first time, he shares the story of his unlikely rise to fame in his own words—with no punches pulled. Today, he stars in hit films...

David Mitchell’s 2014 best seller Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse must really have made people think - because everything’s got worse....

If it can happen in show business, it’s happened to Jon Cryer. Now he’s opening up for the first time and sharing his behind-the-scenes stories in a warmly endearing, sharply observed, and frankly funny look at life in Hollywood. In 1986, Jon Cryer won over America as Molly Ringwald’s...

Join professional comedy writer Joel Morris on a hilarious journey into the hidden world of shared laughter, where he reveals the mechanisms that make jokes work and what comedy can teach us about ourselves....

The exercises in this book will get you off the couch and onto the stage, helping you develop the skills necessary to envision, and achieve, a successful career in comedy....

In this definitive joke-writing handbook, learn comedy writing and how to write a joke with a simple comedy-writing and joke-writing formula you can use right now to write your own jokes....

Once again, lifelong friends and comedy legends Mel and Sue gather round the mic to ask each other the questions they're too embarrassed to ask anyone else… The things in their life they really should know by now – but still absolutely do not. Along the way we'll get facts (hopefully) and often-inappropriate anecdotes (definitely).

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER More than one million copies sold! A “brilliant” (Lupita Nyong’o, Time), “poignant” (Entertainment Weekly), “soul-nourishing” (USA Today) memoir about coming of age during the twilight of apartheid “Noah’s childhood stories are told with all the...

Real Talk with Lil’ Sis is a comedic storytelling experience told through the voice of a young woman navigating church life, friendship, and the many “big sisters” who seem to appear along the way. From late night conversations to Sunday mornings full of unexpected connections, Lil’ Sis shares humorous, heartfelt reflections on belonging, loyalty, and figuring life out one conversation at a time.

Larry is about to turn 40, and his life isn’t going exactly as planned. He’s lost his marriage. He’s lost his home. He’s lost his financial stability. And he’s nearly lost hope that he can turn things around at all. Then he discovers he’s losing his hair. Now he’ll do anything to get it back. Anything. Unfortunately, he might lose everything else in the process. For fans of absurd, unpredictable, no-holds-barred comedies where everything spirals out of control. The audiobook is performed like an old-school radio play, bringing all the hilarious characters to life.

Writing "I Think I'm Funny" has been a labor of love. Of the 47 stories in this book, more than 30 are true tales from my days on this planet. Most of those make it clear how my warped sense of humor gets me in trouble. I based several of the stories on something I like to do, which is ask people what funny things happen to them at work. One of the stories, "Our First and Only RV Vacation," was a true experience shared by a friend. You'll understand why I had to include it when you read it. I grew up with Top 10 lists. I almost didn't include them, but a few laughs hide there. I wrote ...

They Left Their Bicycles Behind: A Great Salt Lake City Mystery Bishop Mark Eldridge is a man of order. He believes in tithing, the "Wetsuit of the Prophets,” and the quiet safety of the Utah grid system. But when a pair of missionaries vanish on a suburban street—leaving nothing behind but their bicycles and a lingering scent of a brand-new car—the Bishop’s carefully ordered world begins to thaw. Guided by a "Burning of the Bosom" that has turned ice-cold, Eldridge transforms into "Utah Eldridge," a reluctant detective digging through the dusty stacks of genealogy records. What he ...

Ever wondered what happens when you take the most vulnerable experience in human life — the first date — and remove the one thing people rely on most to make a good impression? Kristin Williams has done exactly that, multiple times, with results ranging from genuinely transcendent to a man named Derek who spent three hours processing his breakup at a nudist resort while she listened with increasing patience and decreasing optimism. Dating Naked is the honest, hilarious, and surprisingly practical guide to romantic life when nudism is a central fact of who you are. Kristin covers ...

This book takes a look at an uncomfortable subject: Poop—a history of restrooms, outhouses, toilets, toilet paper, and historical figures who have died upon the throne. We dump loads of interesting, funny, and shocking facts and information that are presented respectfully and tastefully. We get deep into the chemistry and biology of feces, including animals, diseases, and parasites. The serious topics are broken up with good bathroom humor presented by Poop Eye & Betty Poop. You'll love the multitude of "Fecal Facts" that will make you scratch your head and say, "Huh, I did not know that....

Looking for the perfect gift for the guy who laughs at his own jokes? You just found it. Someone Crapped in the Flower Patch is packed with 1000 dad jokes that are so bad… they’re actually good. Whether you’re a seasoned joke master or just getting started, this book delivers non-stop laughs, groans, and eye-rolls from start to finish. Inside, you’ll find: Classic dad jokes that never get old Pun-filled one-liners that hit fast Marriage, work, and life humor every dad can relate to Animal jokes, food jokes, and holiday laughs Knock-knock jokes and extra goofy surprises Every page is...

Ever wondered what it actually feels like to hike a Cascade mountain trail, kayak through the San Juan Islands, or soak in a backcountry hot spring with nothing between you and the natural world? Kristin Williams has done all of it, and she is here to tell you everything, including the transcendent moments, the practical logistics, the sunscreen situations that went wrong, and why nude outdoor recreation is one of the most genuinely alive-making experiences available to a human being with good shoes and a packable layer. This comprehensive guide covers everything the outdoor nudist needs to...

Mrs. Claus has left. Not during an argument. Not during Christmas. Not even with an explanation. She simply left, and for the first time in centuries, Santa Claus found himself alone. The workshop at the North Pole still runs. The lists still have to be made. But none of it prepares him for modern dating, which quickly reveals itself to be strange, weird, and at times, completely chaotic. Now Santa is out in the world trying to understand how love became more complicated than delivering toys to millions of strangers in a single night.

If you've ever sat through a worship service wondering what's for lunch…If you've ever tried to look holy while secretly judging the worship leader's skinny jeans… If you've ever read the Bible and thought, "Wait… did that really happen?" Then this audiobook is for you.

NEVER MIND THE BACON is a riotous prison diary that proves even the darkest places can be lit up with humour. From the absurdity of cafeteria “mystery bread” to the unspoken rules of shower etiquette, this diary captures the daily comedy of survival in a world where boredom breeds creativity. The author turns misadventures into laugh-out-loud stories, showing that sometimes the best way to endure confinement is to laugh at it. NICK DIEZEL is a writer and music producer.

Faced with a last minute task to give away tickets to a last place baseball team, Bill Snow wrote a spur of the moment email, stuffed it with humor and observations, and sent it to people he knew through his work as an investment banker. The response was a pleasant surprise. People like it. People loved it. Even if they didn't want the tickets, people responded. This started further forays into "accidental marketing" as Bill used humorous emails to stay in touch and at the top-of-mind of his network of professional contacts. The emails, Bill feels safe to say, were unlike other so-called ...

What happens when the alarm clock stops ringing… but life doesn’t? In Every Day is Saturday, retirement isn’t a quiet rocking chair on the porch - it’s a full-contact sport. After decades of schedules, responsibilities, and living by someone else’s clock, stepping into retirement feels equal parts freedom and confusion. There are long mornings, unexpected adventures, shifting identities, and the startling realization that “doing nothing” is much harder than it sounds.