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The Funny Thing Is...  By  cover art

The Funny Thing Is...

By: Ellen DeGeneres
Narrated by: Ellen DeGeneres
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Publisher's summary

Ellen DeGeneres published her first book of comic essays, the #1 best selling My Point...and I Do Have One, way back in 1996. Not one to rest on her laurels, the witty star of stage and screen has since dedicated her life to writing a hilarious new book. That book is this audiobook.

After years of painstaking, round-the-clock research, surviving on a mere twenty minutes of sleep a night, and collaborating with lexicographers, plumbers, and mathematicians, DeGeneres has crafted a work that is both easy on the ears and very funny. Along with her trademark ramblings, The Funny Thing Is...contains hundreds of succinct insights into her psyche, and offers innovative features including: more than 50,000 simple, short words arranged in sentences that form paragraphs; thousands of observations on everyday life, from terrible fashion trends to how to handle seating arrangements for a Sunday brunch with Paula Abdul, Diane Sawyer and Eminem; all twenty-six letters of the alphabet read aloud.

Sure to make you laugh, The Funny Thing Is... is Ellen in top form.

©2003 Crazy Monkey, Inc. (P)2003 Simon & Schuster Inc. All Rights Reserved. Audioworks Is An Imprint Of Simon & Schuster, Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"Her off-kilter observations are guaranteed to have listeners in stitches." (AudioFile)
"The laid-back, observational comedienne's stream-of-conscience musings gain additional zest from her wry and adroit delivery....Degeneres is a delight." (Publishers Weekly)

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What listeners say about The Funny Thing Is...

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Funny Thing Is...

I've admired Ellen for 15 or more years, and when I found out that I could download her books on Audible.com I was ELATED!!!!!!!! I have watched her show since it's inception, and she BRIGHTENS my day every single day!!!!!
She is SO GENEROUS AND LOVES TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED!!!! My biggest DREAM is to meet her and maybe tell her my situation.
I am Disabled and totaled my car on December 2, 2015. Since then, I've not been able to continue my volunteer work teaching people how to read and write, and to ring the bell for the Salvation Army during their Red Kettle Campaign. I've been volunteering for 3 years and I feel so lost, and with being on Disabled, I only make 911.00 a month and that just barely pays my bills!!!!
If this review makes it to Ellen's desk, I hope she will understand my situation and send me tickets to her show. I JUST LOVE HER SO MUCH AND ADMIRE EVERYTHING SHE DOES!!!!!!
HER AUDIO BOOKS ARE hilarious and thought provocative.
I try to be Kind to everyone as she says at the end of every show.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

INSIPID, JUVENILE and RIDICULOUS!!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Not having been written at ALL!! What a disappointment from a woman with so much visibility and impact on so many people. The chapter and bits I tried to listen to were like reading a middle school Facebook post!

What do you think your next listen will be?

Code Name Verity.

Would you be willing to try another one of Ellen Degeneres’s performances?

NO and another problem is now I will be reluctant to purchase any other non-fiction books by people who are well known - because this book is a complete waste of paper and publication time.

What character would you cut from The Funny Thing Is...?

The author.

Any additional comments?

Take it off your selections! Spare future readers the pain of this terrible book!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

AWESOME!!!

I, especially loved her narrating. You could understand what she meant to say , not just what you would read. Great audiobook! Loved it!!! :)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Ellen is funny!

Whatever you're doing, she forces you to laugh out loud.
She wound up naked in three skits, and I still can't get that out of my mind ... and I don't want to.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really good!

Had me laughing out loud multiple times! Good if you want to just relax and feel good! 2 thumbs up!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Adult Content

Would you try another book from Ellen Degeneres and/or Ellen Degeneres?

Yes, I would try another book by Ellen Degeneres.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have used less inappropriate words.

What aspect of Ellen Degeneres’s performance would you have changed?

At times I didn't like how she used inappropriate language.

Do you think The Funny Thing Is... needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I enjoyed it but I could not listen to it with my children in the car.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

disappointing!

What would have made The Funny Thing Is... better?

I love Ellen Degeneres but this book does not show off her talent. This should not have been a surprise to me since the reviews were not promising but I thought maybe the reviewers were not true ellen fans. I had to listen for myself. I mean how could ellen not be funny? I laughed out loud for only one chapter. :(

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

It's not was I had expected...

Would you try another book from Ellen Degeneres and/or Ellen Degeneres?

No...

What could Ellen Degeneres have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

A beginning and an ending with something that make sens in between.

What aspect of Ellen Degeneres’s performance would you have changed?

It's like if I had assisted to her brainstorming idea that she got during the time she wanted to write a book without any continuous line...

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Funny Thing Is...?

Ouff... at least 25% of the book would have been cut.

Any additional comments?

Her TV show is great !!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I just Love Ellen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Because it is very relaxing and it allows you to take your mind off the things bothering you even if it is just for a while.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Funny Thing Is...?

When Ellen was pretending to be the dog, cursing at the neighbor next door who is yelling at him to shut up when she is making noise as well.

Which character – as performed by Ellen Degeneres – was your favorite?

The character of Ellen in general

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me snicker a lot

Any additional comments?

Absolutely lovely. Love her voice as well. :)

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Ellen is Funny as Ever!

What made the experience of listening to The Funny Thing Is... the most enjoyable?

Fun read for a road trip! Listened on the way to Oregon form Los Angeles, made the late night driving fun, most definetly kept me awake, laughing.

What about Ellen Degeneres???s performance did you like?

Ellen's short story telling is light and entertaining

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book made me laugh, hysterically

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