Preview
  • Joyful Recollections of Trauma

  • By: Paul Scheer
  • Narrated by: Paul Scheer
  • Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (510 ratings)

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Joyful Recollections of Trauma

By: Paul Scheer
Narrated by: Paul Scheer
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Publisher's summary

From award-winning actor and comedian Paul Scheer, a candid and hilarious memoir-in-essays on coming to terms with childhood trauma and finding the joy in embracing your authentic self, featuring content exclusive to the audio edition, including excerpts from live shows and audio clips from home movies.

Paul Scheer has entertained countless fans and podcast listeners with stories about the odd, wild, and absurd details of his life. Yet these tales have pointed to deeper, more difficult truths that the actor and comedian has kept to himself. Now, he is finally ready to share those truths for the first time—but, of course, with a healthy dose of humor.

Blending the confident, affable voice that has won him a dedicated following with a refreshing level of candor, Joyful Recollections of Trauma chronicles Paul’s often shocking, admittedly tumultuous childhood and how the experiences of his youth have reverberated throughout his life. In his comedy, Paul has always been unafraid to “go there,” to play naïve, cringeworthy characters, imbuing them with disarming charm and humanity. That daring openness is on display in this memoir, but in true Paul fashion, it is also surprising, eye-opening, and side-splitting.

In this madcap journey through the inner working of his mind and creative process, Paul Scheer demonstrates once again that the truth is often stranger—and funnier—than fiction. Joyful Recollections of Trauma offers a unique perspective on universal themes: growing up, working through a challenging childhood, staying true to yourself, and finding success, fulfillment, and happiness in often strange and difficult circumstances. Throughout, Paul shares both the hard-fought lessons and the laughter that can be found in the darkest parts of life, and reminds us that what matters is not what you’ve been through but who you are becoming. If you loved recent memoirs by Molly Shannon, Maria Bamford, RuPaul, and Jennette McCurdy—or any book that moves you to both laughter and tears—Joyful Recollections of Trauma is the perfect listen for you.

©2024 Paul Scheer (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
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What listeners say about Joyful Recollections of Trauma

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Paul stories

After years of getting hints at the childhood of Paul on podcasts and Twitch, you finally get the whole story. A lot more serious and hilarious than expected. Great storytelling and so much more than a typical audiobook.

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Such an amazing book!!

I had high hopes for this book, I adore Paul and have listened to his podcast, How Did This Get Made, since it began. This book was so much deeper than I expected, it wasn’t just comedy - it was an insight into his soul. I love his love for June, his kids, his family - it shines in this book.

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Five Stars

For people who don't know Paul Sheer already this book might be a good introduction. Granted a strange collection of stories about dealing with trauma, but a good introduction none the less.

BUY THIS BOOK OR USE A CREDIT OR DO THAT THING WHERE YOU CHOOSE TWO BOOKS FOR ONE CREDIT OR WHATEVER!!!!!!

I mean, I recommend that you give this a try. That's just my opinion.










five stars

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A joyful journey

I've been a huge HDTGM fan for a long time, so when I heard this book was coming out, I knew I needed to get it.
Paul Sheer is so honest and vulnerable, while still creating so many laugh out loud moments. I absolutely loved hearing more about his and June's partnership as well.
inserting clips from the podcast was also a fun surprise.

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A peaceful and nuanced jaunt through tales of pain

Paul writes with his heart on his sleeve with a childlike sincerity and shares painful stories with candid resilience. The human experience has shaped his career and life story in a way that speaks to how uniquely his mind works. As a How Did This Get Made? fan, this book details the backstory to many bizarre anecdotes he had shared throughout the years.

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How This Book Got Made

I laughed, I cried, and I’m both happy I read it but sad that it’s over. The interstitials of stories told on live HDTGM episodes made me feel like I was a little part of the story. 100% recommend!

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this is for the akward ones!

I will say I am biased about this book,cause I'm a huge fan of the podcasts. this book is fantastic it made me laugh out loud, cry, and cringe at Paul's life story and a lot it home for me too. we all had our weird and akward beginnings and as humans we learn and grow to make ourselves better from them. this book was /is a great listen for any fan of podcasts, comedy and just knowing you are not alone in the weirdness of just being human. thank you Paul for such a wonderful book!
Enjoy!!
#teamfred

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An honest retrospective

The Paul is a comedian and humor can be found throughout this seemed more than adequate to call honest. That is not something I see a lot right now when people speak about how they feel, or what is going on around them. I felt a lot of connections to what Paul was stating he learned both at the time and later about some of what occurred during his childhood, even more about his reflections on relationships into adulthood. Then Paul wrote about his ADHD diagnosis and his reflections of his past related to it. I had my diagnosis as a child but it never really added up to me how it was impacting my life until the last few years. Today when I finished the book and took that portion in it’s really adding to the push that I need to work on it even more for not only my own sake but for those that I love.

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Sweet vulnerable and so so funny

Such a sweet and funny book! I’m delighted I listened to the audiobook. I’m a fan of Paul Scheers podcasts so it wouldnt have made sense not to listen to him tell his story. I loved the bonus audio files! Truly, the story of his childhood, journey to success and adorable love story with June was just such a nice time, even somehow during the darkest and most upsetting moments. Paul is the kind of person I root for. I hope he writes another book because I will totally read it.

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I felt this!

Paul’s story is so much more interesting than I could have imagined! So glad I got to hear him tell it!!!

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