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...

Comedian Trevor Noah offers listeners a glimpse into his childhood during apartheid in South Africa in this award-winning memoir.

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

A whimsical celebration of life, art, success, kindness, love, and thriving in a meaningless universe, taken from three iconic graduation speeches from beloved comedian Tim Minchin in a unique blend of Charlie Mackesy meets Kurt Vonnegut. Journey into life’s quirky truths with comedian Tim...

“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...

“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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

This entertaining and sharply written guide - for both beginners breaking into comedy and professionals seeking to improve their sets and advance their careers - examines the work of great comedians such as Louis C. K., Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Izzard, Moms Mabley, Hannibal Buress, Sarah Silverman...

Romans! Madrigals! The Dark Ages! Revolutions! Trumpets! The Oranges of The First World War! All of this (except trumpets) and more, is covered in this definitive, easy-clean history of all world history so far, written by the 21st Century's leading historian, philosopher and thinkerer Philomena...

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...

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 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....

Why is every film or tv programme a sequel or a remake? Why are people so f***ing hung up about swearing? Why do the asterisks in that sentence make it okay? These and many other questions trouble David Mitchell. Join him on a tour of the absurdities of modern life....

David Mitchell, who you may know for his inappropriate anger on every TV panel show except Never Mind the Buzzcocks, his look of permanent discomfort on C4 sex comedy Peep Show, his online commenter-baiting in The Observer or just for wearing a stick-on moustache in That Mitchell and Webb Look...

Party of One is more than just another reflective rambling from another comedian. It's a brutal, coming-of-rage memoir that takes you through Landau's youth around the Motor City. His difficult family dynamic; his struggles with addiction; his desire to be accepted, forgiven, and not forgotten.

In these fresh and hilarious personal essays, Mindy Kaling gives the inside scoop on her new role as single mom, the perks of being her own husband, and how she deals with social anxiety even at the most glamorous A-list parties....

Want to learn how to make people laugh out loud? How to Make People Laugh is a book that targets regular comedians, such as you and me. It does not try to transform you into a professional comedian. Instead, it puts comedy in the spotlight of everyday life....

Comedian Pierre Novellie was on stage when a heckler suggested he was autistic. Usually, this disruption would be water off a duck's back but two things made this heckler different: first, he was himself autistic. Second, he turned out to be absolutely right....

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).

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 ...

I want to tell you about the exact moment I understood that I had crossed a line that was not going back across, and I want to tell you about it with the complete honesty that I have maintained throughout every book in this series, which means I am going to tell you that the moment was not dramatic and it was not transcendent and it was not the kind of thing that would make a good movie scene or a powerful Instagram caption or any of the versions of the conversion moment that the nudist community's promotional materials tend to favor. The moment was a Tuesday afternoon at a resort outside ...

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...

What if swamp gas wasn’t gas at all? When Calvin and his loyal beagle Pudge take what should have been a simple shortcut, they stumble into the strangest mystery they’ve ever faced—one filled with bubbling swamps, suspiciously organized frogs, and a smell so powerful it might just change everything. Welcome to Swamp Gas Alley… where nothing is quite as it seems. As the strange “swamp gas” begins spreading beyond the swamp and into town, Calvin and Pudge quickly realize this is no ordinary natural phenomenon. The frogs are acting differently. The bubbling follows patterns. And ...

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 ...

Frog Farts When what you hear could also be what you're smelling. What if everything you thought you knew about frogs… was only half the story? For generations, we’ve accepted the sounds of the swamp without question. A peaceful nighttime chorus. A natural rhythm. A harmless croak echoing across still water. But what if that’s not the whole truth? This hilarious and strangely convincing book takes you deep into the swamp to uncover a theory no one dared to explore… Until now. Inside this book, you’ll discover: Why frog diets may explain more than science admits The strange pattern...

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. Written in fast-paced movie screenplay format, this wildly absurd comedy follows one man’s desperate quest to win back his hairline — and his life.

What if your pet had a secret diary… and you were the “landlord”? Meet Silly and Maddy—two cockatiels with very strong opinions, questionable trust in humans, and a complicated living arrangement governed by what they firmly believe is a binding lease agreement. Told through their hilariously honest and surprisingly heartfelt perspectives, The Secret Diary of Silly and Maddy takes readers inside a world where: Mirrors are suspicious portals Pianos are instruments of witchcraft Squirrels are criminal masterminds And veterinarians… may or may not be executioners While Silly sees ...

The Princess and the Plumber in Rules of Engagement is the ninth audiobook in the series. After so many trials, tribulations, and crazy adventures, Olaf, the Plumber, and Tundra the Princess are finally engaged... to each other. While making plans, other things are happening in their family and friends' lives. Tundra insists on meeting Olaf's siblings, whom he had spoiled and kept hidden. After meeting them and seeing that they are every bit as bad as Olaf has described them, she puts her foot down.

Does your cat run your household? Good. This book explains why that's correct. Be the Alpha Without Ever Fetching a Fetching Thing is the satirical guide to feline domination that cat lovers, dog owners, and anyone who has ever been silently judged by a creature a tenth of their size has been waiting for. Written in the voice of Whiskers M. Von Sass, Esq. — self-appointed apex predator, passive-aggressive mastermind, and four-time recipient of the Blank Stare of the Year Award — this hilarious cat parody book reveals the tactics, strategies, and psychological warfare your cat has been ...

A warm-hearted and witty memoir from one of DJ Steve Wright's producers in his BBC Radio 1 heyday, Jonathan Ruffle. In the 80's and 90's Steve and Jonathan cooked up an amazingly energised mix of characters, star interviews and sketches. This audiobook relives the cheeky laughter and the warmth of the show that lifted the nation's spirits every weekday from three til five-thirty. It's all here, with never-before-heard memories of Britains's best-loved radio DJ - Steve Wright - written and read by Jonathan Ruffle.

Rosie's working day is about to get seriously strange!... Rosie (AKA Alison) works at a high-class escort agency as a receptionist. When her boss asks her to be the special birthday present for his favourite nephew, she can't help but agree. The boss is the boss after all. However an evening of surprises, unexpected parents and even the odd spider awaits her. By the end of the night, will she have fulfilled her mission or is her potential pay-rise nothing but a distant dream? Perfect for fans of off-beat romance!

Are you sick and tired of reading generic fortune cookie descriptions? Can you imagine if the tables were turned and you got to write fortune cookie inscriptions for each customer in the restaurant? Wouldn’t it be a perfect world if there was no limit or sensor on what you could insert in a fortune cookie? Get ready to have a chuckle as I entertain you with Misfortune Cookies!

If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going… You’ve Come to the Right Place! is a “road trip conversation” that blends philosophy, biography, and comedy to help anyone who finds they need to reinvent their life or change careers, whether by choice or circumstance. It’s a candid look at how childhood, family, societal influence, trauma, and choices made years ago bring you to the intersection of “I Don’t Know Where I’m Going Street” and “I’m Not Sure What to Do Now Boulevard.”