The Funny Thing Is...

By: Ellen DeGeneres

Narrated by: Ellen DeGeneres

Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins

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)

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. :(

Don’t buy it!

Boring and unfunny. I couldn’t get 10 minutes into it. She’s trying too hard to be funny and it’s just not working at all.

Just couldn't finish this

This book wasn???t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Did you just ask me if i have any stupid friends?

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

Write a story rather than attempting a comedy club act.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Everything seemed to be an over-the-top punchline attempt. Not entertaining OR funny.

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

Most of what I listened to did not seem like "scenes" at all... just a bunch of bad punchlines. The brunch was the only actual "story" I remember.

Any additional comments?

I got about an hour in, but it was like swallowing glass... so I stopped.

this just wasn't funny

After purchasing the two David Sedaris audios and being so happy, I had been looking for something equally hilarious. I really had hopes for this audiobook based on the preview clip and the fact that I like Ellen, but was seriously disappointed. There were a few amusing moments followed by 3+ hours of unfunny, monotone, meanderings. Spend your money on something else.

Excruciating

Any additional comments?

After enjoying Sarah Silverman's and Tina Fey's books on long drives with my wife, I took a chance on Ellen's book since my wife is a fan. I couldn't bear it. And my wife didn't argue when I asked if we could turn it off.

Not that funny

I didn't think the book was that funny. I did listen all the way though and the last few chapters were somwhat redeeming. That is why I gave it 2 stars. The Bob Newhart book was much better.

Where is the comedy?

I only gave it a one star rating because this form will not permit a 0 star rating. This book is simply terrible! Just a bunch of drivel about her and none of funny or worth repeating. If there was a way to get a refund - I'd do it.

Rubbish

I am 28mn in and What a DISAPPOINTMENT!!! I usually find Ellen really funny, I follow her on social media and admire her wit and humour. But this book is not what I expected, AT ALL. The jokes are just bizarre, and plain not funny. I am bored and am wondering if I should continue wasting my time on this.

The Funny Person Is...

The whole book is extremely funny!

Ellen What Happened?????

The funny thing is not in this book. I found it annoying and irritating. I have been a fan of Ellen's standup for years, but this was just stupid. Give me Seinfeld or Poundstone or Cho any old day. I couldn't even listen to the whole audiobook, I couldn't wait to turn it off. Sorry Ellen, don't quit your night (stand up) job. Totally disappointing.