4 Comedian Autobiographies To Read ASAP!

As natural as they may appear on stage, when a comedian is performing, they are performing a carefully planned and rehearsed act. Because of this, the public persona of many comedians is only one side of their complicated, human lives. Many comedians have written autobiographies which take the reader behind the scenes of the performer and give a glimpse into their real selves and experiences. These can be very interesting to read, as we can sometimes forget that these stars are real people, just like you and me. To learn more about the world and to see what makes these funny people tick, here are 4 autobiographies by famous comedians that you should read this Summer/Fall!

1. A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost

Colin Jost, now the instantly-recognizable face behind "Saturday Night Live"’s iconic "Weekend Update" desk, recounts his journey from Staten Island to Harvard and everything that followed in his recent memoir A Very Punchable Face. He also delves into behind-the-scenes stories of "Saturday night Live", an institution that is rather shrouded in mystery. Jost fills the pages with entertaining stories, raw family moments, the writing process of some of the most iconic television moments of recent years, and what it is truly like to grow up in the forgotten borough of New York City. If you like modern "SNL" and stories of 25-man cage fights, A Very Punchable Face is the book for you. 

2. Bossypants by Tina Fey

Tina Fey has had an incredible run in the world of comedy television. Not only did she have a long career on "Saturday Night Live", believed by many to be the capstone of the comedy world, but she also created and starred in the Emmy Award-winning comedy series “30 Rock”. Fey’s autobiography outlines her journey from nerdy teen to legendary comedian and also plays into being a woman in such an industry and how she gained power and remained respected in such a traditionally male-dominated field. This book is heartfelt, educational, and mostly 100% #girlboss.

3. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Largely regarded as one of the best autobiographies of recent years, former "Daily Show" host Trevor Noah’s story of his upbringing as a biracial man in post-Apartheid South Africa is a gut-wrenching, honest, and hilarious look at an incredibly difficult time in our history. Noah’s storytelling ability paired with his positive attitude and incredible sense of humor makes for an emotional, hilarious, and refreshing read, with a unique, comedic look into a torrid time in human history.

4. Born Standing Up by Steve Martin

Considered one of the greatest comedy memoirs of all time by one of the greatest comedians of all time, this book details Steve Martin’s journey into standup and, more importantly, his departure from the art. He explains what got him into it in the first place and what eventually led him to walk away from performing in 1981. Not only this, but he describes how he used standup to navigate the chaotic world he was performing in and how he used comedy to cope with family struggles. This book also has a unique accolade, with the audio book version of it being nominated for Best Spoken Word Album. Imagine writing a book so powerful that an audio-only awards show wants in!