The 20 Best Comedy Audiobooks To Listen To

Life can get overwhelming and stressful very quickly, so it’s important to take some time to relax and dive into something a bit more light-hearted. Comedy can be a great escape for many people and whether that’s watching a show or listening to the best comedy audiobooks out there, it’s essential for your mental health.

Comedy is a hugely wide-ranging genre, creating space for fiction, non-fiction, biography, and travel writing. Many of the funniest comedy audiobooks are written as memoirs by and narrated by famous comedians and some of the books on this list are written as advice or perspective-changing essays – regardless of your preferences, there’s something for everyone.

Whatever your preference or whoever you enjoy listening to, this list will encompass some brilliant suggestions so you can find the audiobook that suits your sense of humor and brighten up your day.

The 20 Best Comedy Audiobooks

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Yes Please is a collection of thoughts, ideas, stories, and anecdotes from one of America’s most beloved comedians, famous for her appearances in Parks and Recreation and Sisters. Poehler is also known for writing films and directing, so she’s well-versed in the writing industry already.

This collection will offer insight into the life and mind of Poehler as you listen to her daily musings, thought processes, and opinions on different things and people. This will make you cry with laughter and is overflowing with quirky advice and random wisdom. 

Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

28-year-old Justin has just moved in with his 73-year-old father after getting dumped by his girlfriend – what could go wrong? 

Everyone has that relative that makes inappropriate comments, offers questionable advice, makes problematic comparisons, and just generally seems stuck in the ‘60s. Well, for Justin, that’s his dad, and luckily for us, he’s just written a hilarious book documenting all of his father’s explicit comments, thoughts, and opinions. Sh*t My Dad Says will have you belly laughing, cringing, and may even offer some helpful, light-hearted advice.

James Acaster’s Classic Scrapes by James Acaster 

If you’ve ever watched an interview or a show with James Acaster featured, you’ll know that he’s an accident-prone, quirky, and hilarious individual that can’t seem to escape embarrassment. 

James Acaster’s Classic Scrapes is a novel bursting with stories that provide a never-before-seen insight into his private life. Narrated by the author himself with perfect delivery and his classic, odd, dulcet tones, this one is perfect to consume as an audiobook.

The Ricky Gervais Show by Ricky Gervais

You may have heard of Ricky Gervais from his shocking jokes at the Oscars or his atheist interviews, but have you delved into his sarcastic, silly side properly? The Ricky Gervais Show includes discussions between Karl Pilkington, Ricky Gervais, and Steve Merchant, all of whom are wonderfully witty, sarcastic, and offer the best of British comedy.

These three bring a fantastic new outlook on life, centering around Karl’s simple and realistic outlook on life and the books offer hilarious commentary and discussions, guaranteed to have you belly laughing in public. 

I Can’t Make This Up by Neil Strauss and Kevin Hart

If you’re a Kevin Hart fan, you’ll want to purchase this one immediately. I Can’t Make This Up is Hart’s brilliant memoir that begins in Philadelphia under pretty awful circumstances. Despite Hart’s light-hearted and easygoing approach, his childhood was the opposite. His father was a drug dealer and spent a lot of time in jail, his mother was overly strict and borderline abusive, and his brother was a drug dealer and thief. 

Despite this harsh upbringing, Kevin Hart still soared to fame and stole the hearts of millions across the globe. Despite the beginning of this book being a little more gritty, it is still utterly hilarious and with Hart’s distinctive delivery, works better as an audiobook than anything else.

Failure is an Option by H. Jon Benjamin

This self-acclaimed ‘attempted memoir’ follows the life and experiences of comedian and businessman Jon Benjamin. Told with wit and sarcasm, Benjamin promotes a positive message – Failure is an Option. 

He created a successful career and has lived a happy life thus far, and tells his readers and listeners why failure is a key part of making your own way in the world. This is a laugh-out-loud, thought-provoking read and makes for a brilliant self-help book too.

Things I’ve Learned From Women Who’ve Dumped Me by Various Authors

If you’re feeling unlucky in love, don’t worry, you’re not the only one. This brilliantly funny book is made from stories, anecdotes, and life lessons given by people who have experienced embarrassment, hilarious rejections, and many failed relationships. 

Things I’ve Learned From Women Who’ve Dumped Me is written by high-profile celebrities and public figures, illustrating that everyone, even those you look up to, have experienced failure and rejection.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

Packed with eccentric people, hilarious mishaps, and unbelievable stories, Me Talk Pretty One Day is the unusual memoir of David Sedaris, told through short essays, that takes you through his childhood, career developments, travels, and wacky adventures. 

This story is guaranteed to make you realize that your life is very ordinary in comparison. Filled with weird and wonderful encounters, before long, you’ll think this is a work of fiction!

Yearbook by Seth Rogan

From one of the most respected and well-known comedians and comedy writers in the industry, Yearbook is a collection of personal essays that tell of Rogan’s private life, including all the inevitable, juicy stories of past love, drug use, and childhood laughs.

The audiobook is particularly special as it includes a varied cast that incorporates celebrities and even Rogan’s parents.

Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy by Ophira Eisenberg

Ophira Eisenberg doesn’t view romantic relationships like the average Joe. Instead, she views romance as an experiment, gathering data from dates, sex, and feelings and figuring out what she wants from her ideal partner. 

Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy follows as Eisenburg sleeps her way through suitors edging her closer and closer to the person she would eventually marry. This book is hilarious, perspective-changing, scandalous, and adventurous.

Dave Hill Doesn’t Live Here Anymore by Dave Hill

Straight to the point, honest, and downright hilarious, Dave Hill brings a fantastic, insightful portrayal of his life, his relationships, his family, and his odd experiences. 

Dave Hill Doesn’t Live Here Anymore is the wonderful story of how he managed to move out of his parent’s house at the age of nearly 30 and start a new life in New York. But it wasn’t an easy journey, and in this audiobook, Hill goes through every failure and embarrassment that helped him succeed. 

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Having been raised in one of the most disastrous and brutal regimes in African history, Trevor Noah tells his story of growing up in South Africa during apartheid and finding his way to America to pursue comedy.

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood is a poignant, thought-provoking read, but Noah still maintains his charming wit throughout and places emphasis on his ability to do accents. 

Please Don’t Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson

Please Don’t Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes is a witty, intelligent, and captivating read/listen that will drag you through the emotional ringer. Although she maintains her funny tone throughout, Robinson asks some deep questions and makes some perspective-altering observations.

She carefully unpicks her identity, raising discussions about womanhood, motherhood, and race, and criticizes continued social expectations and restrictions.

Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

Dad is Fat provides hilarious insight into Gaffigan’s position as a parent. He includes some of his favorite moments, comments, and anecdotes from his experience with parenthood so far and shines a very realistic light on what life with young kids is like. 

This book is hysterical for all but will be particularly relatable for many parents in similar positions. 

Dead People Suck: A Guide for Survivors of the Newly Departed by Laurie Kilmartin

Grief is an odd emotion and no one quite knows how to deal with it until they’re plunged into the deep end, experiencing it for themselves. While many therapists and other professionals may suggest more thorough ways of dealing with grief, you can’t deny that humor is often a great way of lightening the mood and cheering yourself up. 

Dead People Suck is a fantastic guide to dealing with grief through humor. With laugh-out-loud stories, genuine advice, and honest retellings, Kilmartin offers a raw and alternate perspective that will have you laughing out loud whether you like it or not. Whatever your situation, the book has something there for you.

Nothing Like I Imagined by Mindy Kaling

This is a series made by Mindy Kaling, an American actress best known for her appearance on The Office. These hilarious books offer interesting insight into Mindy’s life, Hindu culture, life in Hollywood, and struggles with identity, social anxiety, and judgment.

The Nothing Like I Imagined series is honest, frank, and expertly written and delivered by a comic master. If you’re a fan of the actress, you’ll love these books.

Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong

Written as a letter to her daughters, Ali Wong creates a masterpiece of honest, chatty, personal insights and advice tailored to anyone dealing with feminine issues. 

Dear Girls incorporates themes of marriage, sex, employment, confrontation, single life, and motherhood.

You’ll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein

You’ll Grow Out of It is a frank and insightful book, useful for anyone who has ever struggled with their identity or fitting in. 

Klein offers a captivating insight into a ‘tomboy-esque’ childhood and how it felt to constantly feel on the edge of feminine expectations. This is an honest account of what Klein’s developmental stages looked like and will help anyone in a similar position feel like they’re not alone.

Broken (In the Best Possible Way) by Jenny Lawson

Lawson creates a hilarious, yet eye-opening account of living with anxiety and depression. Although these are dark themes, Broken doesn’t take itself too seriously and allows readers to delve into Lawson’s imagination and past.

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

Following the passionate, disturbing, and beautiful story of a woman finding her feet, Nothing to See Here is a must-read for all comic fiction fans. 

This story follows Lillian, as she dives into new opportunities and steps way out of her comfort zone. She’s on a search for meaning and may just find it in the most unexpected place.

Final Thoughts

With any luck, somewhere on this list is your new laugh-out-loud favorite. With a range of authors and comedians to choose from and a plethora of comedy styles to experiment with, the audiobooks on this list should provide inspiration for all listeners, whether you’re new to the comedy audiobook scene or whether you’re a regular.

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