Essays & Memoirs Audiobooks | Comedy

'Нормально, Григорий? Отлично, Константин!', 'А что скажет начальник транспортного цеха?', 'Тщательней надо, тщательней'… Михаил Жванецкий давно разобран на пословицы, поговорки, афоризмы и даже просто обрывки фраз, многие из которых успели утратить ав

михаил жванецкий (Author), михаил жванецкий (Narrator)

Audiobook

I Don't Want to Die Poor

From the New York Times bestselling author of I Can’t Date Jesus, which Vogue called “a piece of personal and cultural storytelling that is as fun as it is illuminating,” comes a wry and insightful essay collection that explores the financial and emotional cost of chasing your dreams. Ever since Oprah Winfrey told the 2007 graduating class of Howard University, “Don’t be afraid,” Michael Arceneaux has been scared to death. You should never do the opposite of what Oprah instructs you to do, but when you don’t have her pocket change, how can you not be terrified of the consequences of pursuing your dreams? Michael has never shied away from discussing his struggles with debt, but in I Don’t Want to Die Poor, he reveals the extent to which it has an impact on every facet of his life—how he dates; how he seeks medical care (or in some cases, is unable to); how he wrestles with the question of whether or not he should have chosen a more financially secure path; and finally, how he has dealt with his “dream” turning into an ongoing nightmare as he realizes one bad decision could unravel all that he’s earned. You know, actual “economic anxiety.” I Don’t Want to Die Poor is an unforgettable and relatable examination about what it’s like leading a life that often feels out of your control. But in Michael’s voice that’s “as joyful as he is shrewd” (BuzzFeed), these razor-sharp essays will still manage to make you laugh and remind you that you’re not alone in this often intimidating journey.

Michael Arceneaux (Author), Michael Arceneaux (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Braindead Megaphone

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Man Booker Prize-winning novel Lincoln in the Bardo and the story collection Tenth of December, a 2013 National Book Award Finalist for Fiction. The breakout book from 'the funniest writer in America'--not to mention an official 'Genius'--his first nonfiction collection ever. George Saunders's first foray into nonfiction is comprised of essays on literature, travel, and politics. At the core of this unique collection are Saunders's travel essays based on his trips to seek out the mysteries of the 'Buddha Boy' of Nepal; to attempt to indulge in the extravagant pleasures of Dubai; and to join the exploits of the minutemen at the Mexican border. Saunders expertly navigates the works of Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, and Esther Forbes, and leads the reader across the rocky political landscape of modern America. Emblazoned with his trademark wit and singular vision, Saunders's endeavor into the art of the essay is testament to his exceptional range and ability as a writer and thinker.

George Saunders (Author), George Saunders (Narrator)

Audiobook

Aren't You Forgetting Someone?: Essays from My Mid-Life Revenge

From award-winning TV comedy writer Kari Lizer (The New Adventures of Old Christine) comes a collection of hilarious essays about the challenges of being a woman of a certain age and all that comes with it: empty nest, post #MeToo dating, aging parents, menopausal rage, unrealistic expectations, and eternal optimism. What does it feel like to have your kids leave the house at the same time your parents might need to move in? With self-deprecating humor, sharp wit, and Ephron-esque aplomb, Kari Lizer gives an honest account of finding herself in the middle of growing up, growing old, and still figuring it all out. She finds the wry, bittersweet humor in (almost) all situations--whether it's becoming radioactive during a thyroid cancer treatment, getting fired from her volunteer work, or struggling to find her identity outside of motherhood. Aren't You Forgetting Someone? speaks to those of us who lament the invisibility of the middle-aged woman, but also revel in the unexpected delights of newfound freedom to do whatever the hell we want while no one is looking.

Kari Lizer (Author), Cameron Bowen, Clark Gregg, Helen Slater, Kari Lizer (Narrator)

Audiobook

Your Life Is a Life of Hope!: Thoughts on Things That Make Life Worth Living

What makes life worth living? If you ask Lord Birthday, the answer is visor hats. And lighthouses. And the stranger who gave him a half-eaten panini on the bus the other day. In Your Life Is a Life of Hope!, the Internet's favorite mustachioed king presents a series of short, illustrated essays in which he argues for hope by way of absurdity and transcendence by way of the mundane. In his signature childlike, dryly humorous style, Lord Birthday explores the things that make life so great, including jackets and bags and "booping someone on the nose." Both strange and strangely moving, this collection will delight fans and newcomers alike.

Lord Birthday (Author), Matthew Frow (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Psychic Soviet, and Other Works

A new, expanded collection of both new and previously published essays and articles from one of the mainstays of the Washington, DC underground rock-and-roll scene, The Psychic Soviet is the most complete collection of writings by Ian Svenonius. The selections are written in a scholarly yet engaging style, filled with parody and biting humor that subvert capitalist culture, and cover such topics as the ascent of the DJ as a star, the “cosmic depression” that followed the defeat of the USSR, and the status of rock and roll as a religion.

Ian F. Svenonius (Author), Ian F. Svenonius (Narrator)

Audiobook

Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies: And Other Rituals to Fix Your Life, from Someone Who's Been There

Brutally honest, often hilarious, hard-won lessons in learning to love and care for yourself from a young vice president at Comedy Central who was called "ahead of her time" by Jordan Peele "Compelling, persuasive, and useful no matter where you are in your life."-Chelsea Handler, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Life Will Be the Death of Me "A bracingly honest, funny read . . . like Wild meets You Are a Badass."-Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B By the time she was in her late twenties, Tara Schuster was a rising TV executive who had worked for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and helped launch Key & Peele to viral superstardom. By all appearances, she had mastered being a grown-up. But beneath that veneer of success, she was a chronically anxious, self-medicating mess. No one knew that her road to adulthood had been paved with depression, anxiety, and shame, owing in large part to her minimally parented upbringing. She realized she'd hit rock bottom when she drunk-dialed her therapist pleading for help. Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies is the story of Tara's path to re-parenting herself and becoming a "ninja of self-love." Through simple, daily rituals, Tara transformed her mind, body, and relationships, and shows how to • fake gratitude until you actually feel gratitude • excavate your emotional wounds and heal them with kindness • identify your self-limiting beliefs, kick them to the curb, and start living a life you choose • silence your inner frenemy and shield yourself from self-criticism • carve out time each morning to start your day empowered, inspired, and ready to rule • create a life you truly, totally f*cking LOVE This is the book Tara wished someone had given her and it is the book many of us desperately need: a candid, hysterical, addictively readable, practical guide to growing up (no matter where you are in life) and learning to love yourself in a non-throw-up-in-your-mouth-it's-so-cheesy way.

Tara Schuster (Author), Tara Schuster (Narrator)

Audiobook

Name Drop: The Really Good Celebrity Stories I Usually Only Tell at Happy Hour

From Ross Mathews, the nationally bestselling author of Man Up!, judge on RuPaul's Drag Race, and alum of Chelsea Lately, a collection of hilarious and irreverent essays about his experience with Hollywood's most talked-about celebrities. Pretend it's happy hour and you and I are sitting at the bar. I look amazing and, I agree with you, much thinner in person. You look good, too. Maybe it's the candlelight, maybe it's the booze. Either way, let's just go with it. Keep this all between you and me, and do me a favor? Don't judge me if I name drop just a little. Television personality Ross Mathews likes telling stories. He was always outrageous and hilariously honest, even when the biggest celebrity he knew was his favorite lunch lady in the school cafeteria. Now that he has Hollywood experience—from interning behind the scenes at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to judging RuPaul's Drag Race—he has a lot to talk about. In Name Drop, Ross dishes about being an unlikely insider in the alternate reality that is showbiz, like that time he was invited by Barbara Walters to host The View—only to learn his hero did not suffer fools; his Christmas with the Kardashians, which should be its own holiday special; and his news-making talk with Omarosa on Celebrity Big Brother, which, as it turns out, was just the tip of the iceberg. Holding nothing back, Ross shares the most treasured and surprising moments in his celebrity-filled career, and proves that while exposure may have made him a little bit famous, he is still as much a fanboy as ever. Filled with tales ranging from the horrifying to the hilarious—and with just the right "Rossipes" and cocktails to go along with them—Name Drop is every pop culture lover's dream come true.

Ross Mathews (Author), Ross Mathews (Narrator)

Audiobook

My Shorts: Brief Scenes from My Early Life; A Collection of Personal Essays

You don’t have to be Jewish to love My Shorts. But it doesn’t hurt! Think David Sedaris meets Nora Efron meets Ralph from The Christmas Story. An uproarious collection of true stories featuring a chubby Cheetos-loving Jewish middle child with overactive sweat glands and an abundant imagination. His tendency towards mischief and twisting the truth complicates grappling with issues of childhood, family, relationships, sexuality, and a hunger to be accepted. From lusting for a BB gun, accidentally setting the family shed on fire, to his “first time” . . . every one of Brian’s stories will make you giggle and feel the nostalgic joy of the messy, hilarious, and poignant journey we call life. Written with a fresh and honest voice blending humor, Americana culture, and “it’s like I’m right there in the ’60s” scenes and vivid dialogue, My Shorts delivers life lessons that stick with you long after reading. Brian’s stories remind you that no matter what, never forget to laugh. Sit down with your Black & White Cookie and a glass of milk with Fox's u-bet and enjoy the ride. Recorded by the author.

Brian Kagan (Author), Brian Kagan (Narrator)

Audiobook

F*ck Your Diet: And Other Things My Thighs Tell Me

Fans of Issa Rae and Phoebe Robinson will love this collection of laugh-out-loud funny and insightful essays that explore race, feminism, pop culture, and how society reinforces the message that we are nothing without the perfect body. By the time Chloé Hilliard was 12, she wore a size 12—both shoe and dress—and stood over six feet tall. Fitting in was never an option. That didn't stop her from trying. Cursed with a "slow metabolism," "baby weight," and "big bones,"—the fat trilogy—Chloe turned to fad diets, starvation, pills, and workouts, all of which failed. Realizing that everything—from government policies to corporate capitalism—directly impacts our relationship with food and our waistlines, Chloé changed her outlook on herself and hopes others will do the same for themselves. The perfect mix of cultural commentary, conspiracies, and confessions, F*ck Your Diet pokes fun at the all too familiar, misguided quest for better health, permanent weight loss, and a sense of self-worth.

Chloé Hilliard (Author), Chloé Hilliard (Narrator)

Audiobook

Underqualified Advice: (and Other Amusing Diversions)

My name is Drew Hayes, and for the past six years I've made my living as a writer. In that time, I've published twenty books, written hundreds of thousands of words, and made countless mistakes-most of which I like to think I've learned from. Underqualified Advice (and Other Amusing Diversions) is my attempt to compile those lessons and share them with others, as well as have some fun along the way. Half of the book is dedicated to detailing specifics about writing, maneuvering the industry, and keeping fiscally afloat in largely unstable waters. The other half, however, is dedicated to pure fun: essays on extremely specific topics, flash fiction, and some bits that not even I know how to classify. Even if you don't particularly need the advice, we could all use an amusing diversion from time to time.

Drew Hayes (Author), Kirby Heyborne (Narrator)

Audiobook

Not Very Intelligent Design: On the origin, creation and evolution of the theory of intelligent desi

Do humans have the best eyesight? No. Do humans have the best hearing? No. Are humans the fastest runners? No. Are humans the best swimmers? No. Can humans fly? No. This body of ours, is it a good design? Or could it be better? Not Very Intelligent Design takes an irreverent look at the human body, analyzes every part of it, and awards each part a mark out of ten. Eyes that go blurry at middle age? Out of ten? Three? Throats that can easily cause death by choking? Seriously? Not Very Intelligent Design is written in a tone that's light-hearted and sometimes mocking which can be upsetting to those who believe in creationism. On the other hand, if you're open-minded enough to have a good laugh at the world around you, including your own body, there's a pretty good chance you'll enjoy it. Some Amazon reviews - 'An extremely observant and sometimes laugh out loud book that was thoroughly enjoyable! Keep writing sir and I will keep reading. Your wit, subtle, and silly, is absolutely delightful! I will never view my body parts the same way...thanks?' 'This book is extremely funny, but it does get the point across: We were either designed by natural selection or a complete idiot.' 'Laughed out loud in many places and nodded in complete agreement throughout. Witty, engaging writing that makes a strong case for a Not Very Intelligent Design(er).' 'Every creationist should read this for some insight into how absurd the notion of intelligent design really is. It might also be worthwhile reading for Richard Dawkins whose excellent but meandering tomes could benefit from a dash more levity. Seriously, if humans were the result of intelligent design we would be very different creatures and Ingman makes it very clear why.'

Mark Ingman, Neel Ingman, Neel Ingman And Mark Ingman (Author), Mark Ingman, Neel Ingman, Neel Ingman And Mark Ingman (Narrator)

Audiobook

Essays & Memoirs Audiobooks in Comedy