Heading back to a topic close to my heart: comedy writing. What can I say? I like funny books by funny people. And here, to ring in the new year, we’re going to look at some famous comedians and their literary efforts.
But words on the stage don’t always translate to words on the page. So which ones do, and who does it best?
Stewart Lee – How I Escaped My Certain Fate (2010)
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When I briefly attempted stand-up, Lee was my go-to guy. In fact, he is the go-to guy for the majority of budding British comedians. And for good reason. From his Fist of Fun radio and TV show back in the nineties to his solo stand-up, he’s always been a master of alienating the audience (and winning them back again).
Here, he breaks down many of his performances with extensive footnotes upon footnotes. Doubling as an autobiography, he dives into the background of many of his routines, providing context from his own life. So, if you’ve watched any of his shows, whether through YouTube clips or as full acts (which I’d very much recommend), this book offers a whole extra course.
It’s bonus content, but a whole lot more.
If you’re looking to make it in comedy, particularly stand-up, then this is a (not-too) serious meta-analysis of choosing every word carefully, right down to the last syllable. Or, if you simply like stuff that’s funny. Because who doesn’t?
Tina Fey – Bossypants (2011)
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I’ll admit, straight-up celebrity autobiographies usually have me running for the hills. Not this one though. All due care has been taken to ensure it’s not simply a cash-grab on a recognizable name (coming hot off 30 Rock at the time). What we get is a funny and incisive portrait of Fey’s life up to that point.
Starting with childhood all the way through to Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, it follows her personal and professional life making it as a comedy writer. Discussing the obstacles that come with being a woman trying to break out in the industry, Fey captures the highs and lows of her life in comedy.
Described like that, it sounds a little pedestrian. Honestly, I’m not doing it justice with that summary. But what can I say? She’s a funny writer. That’s all there is to it.
Norm Macdonald – Based on a True Story: A Memoir (2016)
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Hands up, who knew this was coming? If you know, you know at this point. Sure, it was an obvious choice, but it would’ve frankly been illegal not to include it in such a list.
In it, comedian Norm Macdonald tells us of his life in searingly honest detail. Everything he says is the absolute truth, from growing up on his farm in Canada to the highs and lows of the entertainment industry. He even spends some time in the clink and is, well, kind of a real jerk.
Seriously, don’t go into this book expecting any kind of sincere, earnest portrait of Norm’s life. It’s to be taken with not so much a pinch as a mountain of salt.
Or maybe do. It’s probably the most honest account we’ve got of what was running through his head: making people laugh. And that it does.
Richard Pryor – Pryor Convictions (1995)
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Pryor was a comedian known for his blunt, frank, and brutal honesty. Making light of the extremely traumatic events in his life, his comedy was legendary. He was the true definition of a tortured artist.
Raised in his mother’s brothel, he was exposed to a great deal from a young age. Carrying this into adulthood, he would turn his pain into comedy. While struggling with drugs and womanizing offstage, Pryor would perform for huge crowds on it. In this memoir, he exposes his vulnerabilities, warts and all.
The idea of the long-suffering creative artist may be a cliché, but Richard Pryor was the real deal. And this is not to romanticize it; the detail he provides is so often horrific. Yet his account is a must-read for any aspiring comedian looking to find their own voice through their pain. And, at the end of it all, he was extremely funny.
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Reeves and Mortimer were another big deal growing up. A master of the absurd, Bob Mortimer was never afraid to simply be kinda goofy. Yes, it’s another celebrity autobiography. But it stands out through Bob’s surreal and imaginative turns (as any good fan would expect).
Beginning in the wake of a heart condition and urgent surgery in 2015, the book finds Bob Mortimer taking stock of his life. After cancelling a tour, he casts his mind back to his childhood. And it’s here we get plenty of Bob’s signature fun and wacky anecdotes along the way (or is that ‘by the way?’).
A lot of comedians tend to get stuck in their routine (and, dare I say, become stale), but not Bob. He’s a great storyteller, with so many stories from his past. If you’ve seen him on panel shows or performing, you’ll have some idea of what to expect. But this is exactly what a comedian’s memoir should be: funny and engaging.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A lifelong lover of quality storytelling, Sam grew up in rural England with little else but reading (okay, and some gaming). Starting with Charlotte's Web, he developed a passion for ghost stories and comedy. With his background in narrative and scriptwriting, he writes for Book Notification, providing recommendations both good and not so terrible.