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.

From the elections of Barack Obama and Donald Trump to the tragic events of Ferguson and Charlottesville, the subject of race has come to the forefront of American consciousness. Legendary satirist D. L. Hughley offers his own cutting observations on this contentious issue that continues to traumatize the nation, a wound made more painful by the ongoing comments and actions of the 45th president. Hughley uses humor to draw attention to injustice, sardonically offering advice on a number of lessons, like "How to make cops feel more comfortable while they're handcuffing you".

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.

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 Bernie Mac Show; a stand-up legend; and a hit movie star in Head of State and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. Now, this amazing comedian delves deep down inside to retell the poignant and hilarious story of his childhood and the people who helped shape him into the comedian - and the strong and self-reliant man - he is today.

R. Eric Thomas didn’t know he was different until the world told him so. Everywhere he went - whether it was his rich, mostly White, suburban high school, his conservative Black church, or his Ivy League college in a big city - he found himself on the outside looking in. In essays by turns hysterical and heartfelt, Thomas reexamines what it means to be an "other" through the lens of his own life experience.

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

Before Liz Lemon, before Weekend Update, before Sarah Palin, Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: A recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV....

From a host of The Daily Show and stand-up comic, Michael Kosta, comes a wildly funny and insightful memoir about his unlikely journey from professional tennis player (#864 in the world) to professional comedian (there’s no ranking system in comedy but he’s probably . . . top 50?).

From a massively successful stand-up comedian and co-host of chart-topping podcasts “2 Bears 1 Cave” and “Your Mom’s House,” hilarious real-life stories of parenting, celebrity encounters, youthful mistakes, misanthropy, and so much more....

In the mid-70s, Steve Martin exploded onto the comedy scene. By 1978 he was the biggest concert draw in the history of stand-up....

Since his first performance at the legendary New York nightclub “Catch a Rising Star” as a 21-year-old college student in fall of 1975, Jerry Seinfeld has written his own material and saved everything....

James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales raucously and revealingly take the SNL story up to the present, adding a constellation of iconic new stars, surprises, and controversies....

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress....

Bob Odenkirk’s career is inexplicable. And yet he will try like hell to explicate it for you. Charting a “Homeric” decades-long “odyssey” from his origins in the seedy comedy clubs to a dramatic career full of award nominations, it’s almost like there are many Bob Odenkirks....

Robin Williams was a singularly innovative and beloved entertainer. He often came across as a man possessed, holding forth on culture and politics while mixing in personal revelations....

The legendary writer and performer of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame takes listeners on a grand tour of his ascent in the entertainment world John Cleese’s huge comedic influence has stretched across generations....

H.P. Lovecraft's classic tale of a polar expedition meeting unspeakable horrors is brought to life in the style of a 1930s radio drama....

A hilarious and biting memoir from the actor, comedian, and Saturday Night Live alumnus....

David Mitchell’s 2014 best seller Thinking About It Only Makes It Worse must really have made people think - because everything’s got worse....

In this definitive joke-writing handbook, learn comedy writing and how to write a joke with a simple comedy-writing and joke-writing formula you can use right now to write your own jokes....

The entries in this compulsively listenable book bridge past and present with topics like getting ghosted, handling haters, and why dog owners rule (sorry, cat people)....

As a stay at home mother of three, Leanne was looking for a way to get some grown up time without interfering with her children or her husband’s career....

From 1962 to 1992, Johnny Carson and his Tonight Show dominated the American consciousness. Henry Bushkin was Carson’s best friend and lawyer during that period, and his book is a tautly rendered and remarkably nuanced portrait of Carson, revealing not only how he truly was, but why....

If you are driving, pull over. If you are at work, close your door, unless you don't mind your colleagues seeing you doubled over, in tears, on your office floor...

Jim Gaffigan is in top form for his seventh comedy special. The four-time Grammy nominated comedian doesn’t understand why we aren’t more honest about the reasons we don’t want to attend events, while at the same time embraces lying to kids....

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....

At last, the definitive audiobook about perhaps the best cabin crew dramedy ever filmed: View from the Top starring Gwyneth Paltrow.....

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....

Rainn Wilson’s memoir about growing up geeky and finally finding his place in comedy, faith, and life. For nine seasons Rainn Wilson played Dwight Schrute, everyone's favorite work nemesis and beet farmer. Viewers of The Office fell in love with the character....

While other books give you tips on how to “write funny,” this book offers a paradigm shift in understanding the mechanics and art of comedy and the proven, practical tools that help writers translate that understanding into successful commercial scripts....

Before Michael Kosta was performing stand-up comedy specials and hosting The Daily Show, he was a professional tennis “star,” reaching the lofty heights of the #864 ranked men’s singles player in the world. Stop laughing. That’s better than your world ranking. As a tennis pro, Kosta traveled across the globe, competing in such exotic locales as the Netherlands, Tokyo, and even rural Illinois before deciding to put down his racket and pursue a more stable and predictable career: comedy.

We all have things in our life that we should know by now, but don’t. Absences in our knowledge and skillset that are frankly shameful in an adult. Things that would be too embarrassing to ask anyone to explain – except our very best friend. Listen in as Mel and Sue tackle their ignorance head on, asking each other to explain something that they still don’t know - but absolutely, as adults, should - from how to parallel park to fully understanding bread (why has it got all those holes in it? What, honestly, is yeast?).

Discover the secret weapon to navigating life's ups and downs with a smile in Laughing Through Life's Mishaps. This delightful eBook unveils a fresh perspective on dealing with everyday struggles, offering readers the tools to infuse humor into even the most challenging situations. Unravel the psychology of laughter and how it shapes our daily existence, setting the stage for a journey into finding humor in unexpected places. From recognizing the absurdities that surround us to transforming mishaps into comedic gold, every chapter is designed to highlight the joy that can be found in the ...

The I Kline 2: The further making of a Mark is a collection of more stories and encounters that have been involved in or instigated, one way or another over my lifetime. This is another glimpse, into the twisted, some have said genius, mind of mine. Who am I to again disagree with the opinions of others? These stories are sure to make you laugh, shake your head in disbelief, and potentially soil yourself. I feel that there can be humor found in every situation. **You have been warned...AGAIN!

Welcome to the ultimate survival guide for the modern workplace - where productivity isn’t always about what you do, but how busy you look doing it. This book isn’t just a witty commentary on office culture; it’s a step-by-step guide to mastering the fine art of appearing productive without breaking a sweat. Whether you’re dodging pointless meetings, perfecting the fake phone call, or crafting the world’s vaguest email, this guide has you covered.

"How to Be Anxious: A Nervously Overthought Guide" is the guide that takes you through the intricacies of transforming everyday concerns into full-blown panic attacks. Whether you're a novice worrier or a seasoned panic pro, you'll find relatable advice on navigating life with a perpetually furrowed brow. Get ready to celebrate the delightful chaos of being an expert in overthinking!

Med sin turnétrilogi, World tour of Skåne, World tour of Skandinavien och World tour of the world, är Johan Glans en av de standupkomiker som sålt flest biljetter i landet. Sedan han år 2018 avslutade sin senaste standupturné har han mestadels jobbat med film och tv, men nu är han tillbaka på den stora livescenen igen – på sin första egna sommarturné någonsin. När turnén blev offentlig spreds ordet snabbt och redan en timme efter biljettsläpp hade det sålts 20 000 biljetter. Under sommaren besökte turnén utsålda spelplatser i hela Sverige.

Nu finns David Batras hyllade standup-show som ljudbok! På ett personligt och lekfullt sätt beskriver komikern fördelarna och fallgroparna med det där som alla vet, men som han tidigare undvikit att prata om – att vara gift med en före detta partiledare.

Ja, wie?! Wo ist der Eierschneider, wenn man ihn mal braucht? Warum ist das intelligente Wohnen zu schlau für mich? Warum hängt immer alles miteinander zusammen? Warum komme ich mir im Baumarkt überflüssig und verloren vor? Und warum eigentlich immer ich?! Man steht oft da und hört sich selber sagen: "Ja, wie?!" Weil man alles nicht weiß. Da hilft nur eins: Tacheles. Und Wurstsalat. Und beides serviert von Kai Magnus Sting. In seinem neuen Programm.

Worüber regen wir uns nicht alles auf? Über das Knöllchen an der Windschutzscheibe, die langsame Kassiererin an der Supermarktkasse, über die Bundesregierung und über das Wetter. Wenn wir uns ärgern, wenn wir zornig sind, dann gräbt sich die Glabellafalte zwischen den Augenbrauen tief in unsere Haut. Deswegen heißt sie ja auch so: Zornesfalte. Und das sieht dann jeder. Wenn wir lachen, verbessert sich unser Hautbild. Mit einem Lächeln im Gesicht werden wir für unsere Mitmenschen attraktiver. Das andere Geschlecht fühlt sich zu uns hingezogen. Und Lachen ist gesund.