Story Tags

Reading for the Laughs

Laughter is a difficult thing to draw from a page. Humor is subjective, fickle, cultural and not always timeless. It follows trends - is it fashionable to be sarcastic, dry, satirical, or crass? Is it bound to a certain language or a particular moment in history? Below you will find a list of books and stories that showcase a range of types humor and are at times side-splittingly funny.

If You Give a Blogger a Book Deal

They’ll Want a YouTube Channel

Whether it’s a writer of a food blog or the star of a YouTube Channel, books by Internet celebrities are here to stay. The wave of bloggers and YouTube celebrities turned writers has been going strong since the medium gained popularity in the early 2000’s. In many cases, these writers have challenged the odds to cultivate loyal, if sometimes niche, fan bases. In the end, the book still reigns supreme as these online personalities have gone on to write humor, how-to-guides, cookbooks, and even incredibly personal memoirs.

Adult Book Club

"Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things" by Jenny Lawson

Pick up Francis Gregory's Adult Book Club's January selection, Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson.

Funny Pop Culture Books

Beach season may be over, but the need for "beach reads" never goes away. For me, a beach read is rarely a novel. My ideal relaxation book is usually light, funny, non-fiction and usually about some aspect of pop culture. (I realize that this a very specific genre.) I've picked some of my favorites below. If you aren't in the mood for fiction the next time you go on vacation give one of these a try!

Leader's Guide to Storytelling by Stephen Denning

What Is Your Story?

Stories and storytelling for adults

Do you think of yourself as an expert storyteller? Surprise--if you're a homo sapiens (and if you're reading this, you are,) you are a storytelling natural. Most stories don't start with "Once upon a time" or conclude "And they lived happily ever after." In fact, many stories start in the middle, and aren't about monsters or fairy godmothers at all. Yet our everyday stories, the stuff of our lives, can carry as much emotional impact as a famous Grimm or Perrault tale.

LOL-Worthy Books

Laugh-Inducers You Can Read or Listen To

Sometimes we need a book that can entertain us. Sometimes, we need to be able to listen to a book rather than read it. Here is a list of giggle-inducing books that are available in both audio and print format. When it comes to audiobooks, my favorites have always been the kind that can make me laugh. Even better, each of these audiobooks is read by the funny, talented authors themselves.

Uh...What Was That?

Books that boggle the mind.

I've read a few books in my lifetime that, try as I might to stretch my imagination, I just can't get my head around. These are books that are so weird and so puzzling, I can't help but wonder if my reading comprehension is not what it used to be. By no means am I saying that the books are terrible. Quite the contrary. It's just whenever I think of the books, I end up with more questions than answers. Below are a list of books that I think are worth the read, but (cue Keanu Reeves:) "Whoa!"

Some Funny Advice

Life tips from unexpected places

I'm not much for self help books, so finding good advice in a book is rare for me. Each of these titles have unexpectedly provided pieces of wisdom that have stuck with me months and years later.

Read This NOT That!

Overrated books with a much better alternative

Ever read a book that people made such a big deal over only to be disappointed? Maybe you loved the genre or the story, but the delivery just wasn't good enough. Check out these popular (perhaps overrated) books with a better alternative.