Side Effects
Without Feathers
&
Getting Even
Three hilarious books which make up a collection of Woody Allen's written work from the 1970's, including short stories, essays and one-act plays. Must-haves for any Allen fan- or any fan of things hilarious.

Mr. Show - The Complete First and Second Seasons
If you're not familiar with Mr. Show, or Bob Odenkirk or David Cross, then you don't even deserve to be looking at this page. Just go watch some more Carrot Top and Gallagher and be happy.

Just kidding, just kidding of course. But this is definitely America's best sketch comedy show ever, and this country's answer to Monty Python. Need I say more?

Naked Pictures of Famous People by Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart picks up where Woody Allen left off in this hilarious book of essays.

Feel This Book: An Essential Guide to Self-Empowerment, Spiritual Supremacy, and Sexual Satisfaction by Janeane Garofalo & Ben Stiller
A pseudo self-help guide by two great comedians....


Letters From a Nut
More Letters From a Nut
&
Extra Nutty! Even More Letters From a Nut by Ted L. Nancy
Hands-down the funniest books I've read in a long, long time. I'm talking laugh-out-loud funny. I'm talking careful-where-you-read-it funny, lest you embarrass yourself. I'm talking watch-your-blood-pressure funny. I think I've used enough hyphenated expressions, don't you? Mr. Nancy (a nom de plume for an "unknown" author- but speculation is Jerry Seinfeld may be behind him) writes to a myriad of companies, hotels, and business establishments to make special arrangements or requests. The requests are bizarre enough (such as asking permission from a hotel to sell hamburgers shaped like the hotel in the lobby ), but the responses they elicit- and the fact that they do elicit responses- just takes the cake.

I feel so certain that you will love these books that I'm willing to refund your money if you don't laugh out loud at least once.*

Woody Allen: Standup Comic
A great CD compilation of Woody's stand-up years.

An Evening With Mike Nichols & Elaine May
&
Nichols & May Examine Doctors
Two CDs of some of the best comedy you'll hear. Taken from their Broadway show and studio work, these albums show where these great comic minds first exploded their talent.

Rock This! by Chris Rock
One of the funniest stand-ups working today, Chris Rock's book is just like his act- fast and funny.

Chris Rock's Roll With The New
Rock's CD is a great combination of his stand-up act and some new recorded bits.

Shopgirl : A Novella
&
Pure Drivel by Steve Martin
If you think Steve Martin is just "The Jerk", you'll be surprised by these smart, wry books.

Gates of Eden by Ethan Coen
Yep, *that* Ethan Coen. Of the Coen Brothers. He's written a wonderful collection of short stories- all very stylized, as you would expect. You can almost seem them as little Coen Bros. films. Also available in AUDIO version, with readings from some Coen regulars like John Goodman, John Turturro & Steve Buscemi!

Naked, Holidays on Ice
&
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Hilarious books of essays by the NPR personality and actor/comedian. David Sedaris has had a lot of interesting experiences, and he's not afraid to share them with us (so we don't have to go through them ourselves...).

Take the Cannoli by Sarah Vowell
If you like David Sedaris, you're sure to like Sarah Vowell. Same sensibility, same dark sense of humor, and same verbal acuity.

State by State with The State: An Uninformed, Poorly Researched Guide to the United States by the members of The State
If you're a fan of the comedy troupe The State (late of MTV), or even if you've never heard of them, you'll get a lot out of this travel guide. In it, you'll find such useful information as the proper way to ask for heroin in certain states, and which states hate the Jews. There are lots of fun driving games to keep the kids busy for those long trips, too!
currently out of print

Clerks Chasing Amy: Two Screenplays by Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith's dialogue is, in my opinion, the best part of his films. Here you get to treasure all the pop-culture references and philosophies that you may have missed when they went whizzing by in the films. Not every screenplay makes as good a read as it does a film, but these two are absolutely fantastic in both genres.

Swingers : A Screenplay and the Swingers Rules by Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn
Another screenplay worth reading, not only because it's so well-written, but also because of the list of Swingers Rules that are included- as well as a Swingers Glossary, to explain the use of the word "money" as an adjective, or what it means to "pull a Fredo". If you liked the movie (and please go and see it if you haven't!), you'll enjoy the book.

Four Films of Woody Allen
Four more screenplays worth your time... the Oscar-winning Annie Hall, the drama Interiors, the oft-maligned but still interesting Stardust Memories, and my personal favorite Manhattan. When you read the scripts, you can see how rich the characters are, and how many layers the stories have. Almost a lesson in screenwriting. Take that, Syd Fields!

Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot: And Other Observations by Al Franken
Much more than just a great title... This book is full of wonderfully written, hilarious accounts of politics through the eyes of Al Franken. Any liberals (and conservatives with a sense of humor!) should love it.

Downsize This! by Michael Moore
Another liberal manifesto, but this one by guerrila filmmaker Michael Moore. Moore is the man behind the film Roger Me, as well as the television series TV Nation. He talks about some serious issues, but in a way that is both humorous and thought-provoking, without being preachy. A rare and wonderful combination.

Surrender the Pink by Carrie Fisher
My favorite book by Carrie Fisher. It starts out with one of the best opening lines to a novel- ever. Well, that may be a bit extreme, but it *is* a wonderful book.
Currently out of print, but Amazon.com will try and find it!

True Story : A Comedy Novel by Bill Maher
A novel by the host of Politically Incorrect, Bill Maher. It's about the lives of some standup comics in the late-70s/early 80s, and it's rumored to be based on some real-life friends of Maher (including Jerry Seinfeld and Roseanne). I would almost say that Maher is a better writer than a stand-up, but I wouldn't want to step on anyone's toes... (note: chapter four has the best chapter title in the history of chapter titles.)

Groucho and Me, by Groucho Marx
A book about Groucho by the man who knew Groucho best. Groucho Marx himself. His style of writing is just as his style of speaking- quick, hilarious, and always a little deeper than you first thought. Some great stories, as well as some great one-liners.

How to Talk Dirty and Influence People : An Autobiography, by Lenny Bruce
Any comedy fan should read this book. Bruce doesn't always get the recognition or the respect he deserves. Find out his side of the story.

Private Parts by Howard Stern
If you think Howard Stern is just a "shock jock", or stupid, or racist, or have any other pre-conceived notions of him, you should read his book Private Parts. You'll be pleasantly surprised by how well-written it is. How hilarious. How intelligent (yes-intelligent!). And just fun in general. You still may not like Stern after reading the book, but at least you'll be entertained and maybe have more than one view of him. (Besides, Albert Brooks loves the book, so it can't be too bad, can it?)

Roger Ebert's Book of Film
Attention film geeks- we have a new book to salivate over. Roger Ebert has compiled a wonderful, huge book of writings about film by some of the most influential critics and writers of our time- including Pauline Kael, Andrew Sarris, Truffaut, Truman Capote and on and on and on. A film-lovers dream.

The Life and Art of Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges is the man responsible for some of the most brilliant comedies of the 1940s and 50s. Way ahead of his time, he pushed the envelope with sexual innuendo and word play in films such as Sullivan's Travels and The Lady Eve. He was also the first person to get credit for both writing and directing his own films.

The First 200 Years of Monty Python
A compilation of Python material and information, including interviews and episode guide.

SCTV: Behind the Scenes
SCTV alum Dave Thomas gives us an inside view of the classic sketch comedy show.

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Amazing Colossal Episode Guide
I'm sure any fans of the show have this book all ready, and if you don't have it you're probably not a big fan of the show and wouldn't really want it. But, either way, here it is...

Get Your Tongue Out Of My Mouth, I'm Kissing You Goodbye,
If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet?,
When Your Phone Doesn't Ring, It'll Be Me
&
Sex Tips For Girls by Cynthia Heimel
Four collections of essays by columnist Cynthia Heimel. Believe me- the books are every bit as great as the titles... And they're not just for women, either.

Merrill Markoe's Guide to Love by Merrill Markoe
The creator of "Stupid Pet Tricks" takes on the subject of Love, and boy does she do her research!

The Wild Girls Club : Tales from Below the Belt by Anka Radakovich
Anka Radakovich writes the sex column for Details magazine. This book is a compilation of some of those articles, as well as some new ones. She tackles everything from personal ads, to her own private prophylactic testing. You'll definitely want to join in the club.

The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin by Bill Zehme
A swingin' bio of Old Blue Eyes by the writer of Albert's Rolling Stone profile.

The Prehistory of the Far Side : A 10th Anniversary Exhibit by Gary Larson
Gary Larson. Far Side. 'Nuf said.

The Portable Dorothy Parker
A collection of short stories and poetry by Dorothy Parker, the Queen of the Round Table (well, the Algonquin Round Table, anyway...). It includes the famous "Telephone Call" story ("If I didn't think about it, maybe the telephone might ring. Sometimes it does that... Maybe if I counted to five hundred by fives, it might ring by that time."), as well as some great one-liners. I think a lot of people quote Parker and don't realize it. It's great to read her work and realize the contribution she's made.

The Benchley Roundup by Robert Benchley
Ms. Parker's compatriot at the Round Table in the 20's. Benchley was often regarded as the quickest wit around, and this compilation of his stories helps explain why.

Memoirs of an Amnesiac by Oscar Levant
Oscar Levant's autobiography. Talk about biting humor- this pianist, actor, and television personality could have given Mike Tyson a run for his money...

The Penguin Book of Women's Humor
A collection of essays and stories by the likes of Dorothy Parker, Fran Lebowitz, Erma Bombeck and Lily Tomlin- among many others. Sort of the Whitman's Sampler of women humorists.

The Fran Lebowitz Reader
If you're misanthropic, cynical, disenchanted or all of the above, you have to read Fran Lebowitz. You'll still hate everything, but at least you'll get a few laughs in the meantime.

*although I do stand behind the theory, this promise is made for effect, and should not be taken seriously...

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