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Humour in Our Non Fiction Collection

Shirley Jones —

Do you like to be amused or even laugh out loud when you read a book? You may like funny essays, satire, amusing cartoons or graphic novels, or just books written by authors with a great sense of humour.

You will find English humour and satire at Dewey number 827 and American humor and satire at 817. Books on cartoons can be found at 741.56. Travel books can often be written in a very funny way - I know I love to read about the weird situations people find themselves in when travelling. Many comedians have written funny books on aspects of their lives, and even scientists can be amusing too. Have a look in the nonfiction collection- there is a surprising amount of humour! 

Here are some of my favourite authors who have written some hilarious nonfiction:

Bill Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1951, but settled in England in 1977 and has spent most of his adult life there. His first hilarious travel book The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America was written in 1989, and he has written many more.

Jenny Lawson is an American journalist (aka The Bloggess) who writes with dark humour and brutal honesty. Her first book Let's Pretend This Never Happened (a mostly true memoir) was enormously successful and has been followed by more funny books.

Caitlin Moran was born in Brighton, UK and is an acclaimed journalist, broadcaster and author. Her latest book More Than a Woman follows many successful titles including How To Be a Woman.

Mary Roach is a very funny American science journalist. Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law is her latest book.

David Sedaris is described as one of the most observant American writers addressing the human condition today. He writes with self-deprecating humour. His latest book is A Carnival of Snackery: Diaries (2003 - 2020).


Or try these titles from all sections of our nonfiction collection

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: A Sortabiography Eric Idle
Bonkers: My Life in Laughs Jennifer Saunders
Diary of a Drag Queen Crystal Rasmussen
Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Approach to Punctuation Lynne Truss
Funny Ha Ha: 80 of the Funniest Stories Ever Written Selected by Paul Merton
I Feel Bad about My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman Nora Ephron
Last Chance To See Douglas Adams
Moab is My Washpot Stephen Fry
More Rules for Life: A Special Volume for Enthusiasts Kitty Flanagan
Tall Tales and Wee Stories Billy Connolly
The Panic Years: Dates, Doubts and the Mother of all Decisions Nell Frizzell
The Wrong Way Home Peter Moore
There are No Grown-Ups: A Mid-Life Coming-of-Age Story Pamela Druckerman