Other books that might interest you

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  The Sacred Art of Joking

  James Cary

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  Every few weeks a politician, pundit or soap star causes a media storm by making a gaffe or tweeting a joke that some people do not find funny. Comedy is very hard to get right and yet we think it's important to have a sense of humour and not take yourself too seriously. On the other hand, a sense of humour failure can lead to losing your friends, your Twitter account, your job, your career and, in some cases, your life.James Cary knows about this. He is a sitcom writer who's written jokes about bomb disposal in Afghanistan (Bluestone 42), defended comments about Islam by Ben Elton on Newsnight, been on a panel with radical Muslim cleric Anjem Choudary, sits on the General Synod of the Church of England and somehow managed to co-write episodes of Miranda. An odd mix, but one that makes him very listenable. This entertaining, breezy audiobook explains how comedy works (with jokes and quotes) and gives much-needed insights into the controversy surrounding humour.

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  No Offense

  Jerry Belitch

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  The President of the United States wants to pursue a girl, but not just any girl, a minor. So what is a thirsty politician with no conscience or morals of any kind to do? Propose a law to make pursuing such young ladies legal, of course!When the public learns about the pending piece of legislation, society begins to implode as celebrities of all sorts are painted as sexual predators who suddenly find themselves having to scramble to keep their secrets and careers intact. Meanwhile, women nationwide band together and support each other through a new social movement and POTUS remains stuck in his own head as it appears his fantasies may just become reality.From the author of Population: One and Fifty Ways to Slay, No Offense is a pedal to the metal comedy that shows what happens when truth and speculation blur together and the inept are allowed to rule.

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  The Book of Idle Pleasures

  Tom Hodgkinson, Dan Kieran

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  From a founder and editor of The Idler, a gentle guide to goofing off—and finding stolen moments of contentment amid the madness of the world. 
   
  In this inspiring book, expert Idlers Tom Hodgkinson and Dan Kieran stand up for the simple pleasures in life . . . by lying down for a nap. With its tongue firmly in its cheek, The Book of Idle Pleasures renounces our world of ever-growing consumer overload in favor of the timelessly true adage that the best things in life really are free. 
   
  In its reflections on 100 simple pastimes—among them slouching, skipping stones, staring out the window, doodling, looking at maps, learning the names of trees, and, natch, taking a nap—The Book of Idle Pleasures is a charming celebration of simple pleasures for the sake of pleasure itself, making it a soothing antidote for our nonstop culture and an ideal restorative against the costly confusion of our daily existence. 
   
  Praise for Tom Hodgkinson’s How to Be Idle 
   
  “A true literary gem . . . irresistible.” —USA Today 
   
  “A joyful tribute to how we could live . . . lovelyto be savored.” —Providence Journal

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  Bootleg

  Damon Wayans

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  Nothing is too outrageous for Damon Wayans. Whether he's talking about family, celebrities, racism, relationships, politics, or sex, Damon takes no prisoners. And in Bootleg, he brings it all on, uncut and uncensored:Marriage...What are the scariest words known to man? "Till death do us part." Why not until my car breaks down? Or until I run out of money?I hate marriage counselors. This is the biggest scam in the world. Someone figured out a way that women can do the things they love best at the same time: talk and spend money.Thoughts on celebrities, like Oprah, Mike Tyson, Dr. Kevorkian, Gary Coleman, and...There's something worse than having HIV, ask 0.J.Imagine being alienated from the world, totally alone with no one wanting to have anything to do with you. I'll take the Ebola virus over what he got.When I found out that Steven Spielberg has two black kids, I was amazed. Where did he get these kids from? Were they props left over from The Color Purple?"The Dozens, a Favorite Childhood Game..."Damon, your mother is so fat she has to take her pants off just to get into her pockets.""Yeah, well, your mother's so poor she can't even pay attention.""Oh, yeah, well your sister is so ugly, they have to tie a pork chop around her neck so that the dog will play with her.""Yeah, well, your mother is so black every time she goes to night school the teachers mark her absent."Living in LA...I'm afraid of earthquakes, especially because I have kids to think about. I remember once after a big earthquake I was standing outside my house, butt-naked, thinking, "Man, I hope them kids make it out here. And I hope they're smart enough to wake up their mama, `cause this place is shaking."Black Leaders...I must have been asleep the day they elected Al Sharpton as the black representative. He is the only leader in history to show up to a rally wearing a tight red velour sweat suit with a roller in the front of his hair.Filled with laughs, craziness, and lots of truth, Bootleg will leave you hurting for more!Who went and told Magic Johnson that he should do a talk show? Anybody who repeatedly says "bassetball" doesn't have any business doing a talk show. I'm sure that sometimes in his life someone tried to correct him. When he was a little boy his mom must've tried:Magic's Mother: Hey, Earvin, what are you going to be when you grow up?Magic: I wanna play BASSETBALL.Magic's Mother: Now, Earvin, its called BAS-KET-BALL. BASKETBALL.Magic: That's what I said, BASSETBALL. BASSETBALL, BASSETBALL.Magic's Mother: Well, baby, I hope you can play it, 'cause you sure can't say it.

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  The Jolliest Bunch - Unhinged...

  Danny Pellegrino

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  The holidays are always merry, but the mishaps shine bright.For many families, the holiday season is—quite frankly—unhinged. Whether that involves inappropriately improvised monologues at the children’s Christmas pageant, gifts that land someone in the emergency room, or just sitting through the emotional rollercoaster of a Hallmark movie marathon, the holidays are a chaotic and magical time. And nobody knows this better than Danny Pellegrino.For Danny, the holidays are always accompanied by both merriment and mayhem. And like the gay Ghost of Christmas Past, he’s here to take you on a nostalgic trip through his most festive memories in a collection of stories that are heartfelt, hilarious, and (unfortunately) true. So grab your favorite winter beverage, snuggle up by the crackling fireplace, and turn up the holiday tunes from the pop diva of your choosing. The Jolliest Bunch is a healthy dose of holiday cheer to prepare you for the frenzied season ahead and remind you of the moments that make all the chaos worth it.

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  Brave Deeds - A Novel

  David Abrams

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  From the author of Fobbit: “A stirring, sardonic war story . . . Mordantly funny and harrowing . . . Reminiscent of such classic war novels as Catch-22” (Tampa Bay Times).   A Military Times Best Book of 2017, Brave Deeds is a compelling novel of war, brotherhood, and America. Spanning eight hours, the novel follows a squad of six AWOL soldiers as they attempt to cross war-torn Baghdad on foot to attend the funeral of their leader, Staff Sergeant Rafe Morgan. As the men make their way to the funeral, they recall the most ancient of warriors yet are a microcosm of twenty-first-century America, and subject to the same human flaws as all of us. Drew is reliable in the field but unfaithful at home; Cheever, overweight and whining, is a friend to no one—least of all himself; and platoon commander Dmitri “Arrow” Arogapoulos is stalwart, yet troubled with questions about his own identity and sexuality. Emotionally resonant, true-to-life, and thoughtfully written, Brave Deeds is a gripping story of combat and of perseverance, and an important addition to the oeuvre of contemporary war fiction.   “Earnest and affecting . . . The soldiers are foulmouthed, sex-obsessed and fiercely loyal for reasons they can’t quite articulate—in other words, packed with young American male authenticity. Abrams’s prose is relaxed and conversational, with a few scattered literary nuggets that add heft, like chunks of beef in a vegetable soup. . . . The mash-up works, and Abrams’s voice is clear and strong.” —Brian Castner, The Washington Post   “Outstanding . . . With a little bit of humor and bumbling grace, these six soldiers magnify what is both beautiful and despairing about the American military.” —Missoulian

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