Funny Biography

When satirist John Clarke died, in 2017, many people mourned his passing as if they had lost a friend or a member of the family. Many of us felt we grew up with him. After all, for the best part of half a century, since he burst into our lives as Fred Dagg in 1974, he was a performer, an actor, a writer, a satirist and as a commentator in both Australia and New Zealand. In this fascinating memoir, Lorin Clarke tells the story of growing up with her famous father, her art historian mother Helen and her little sister Lucia. Much has been written about John Clarke, but this is the insider’s view.

John Cooper Clarke is a phenomenon: Poet Laureate of Punk, rock star, fashion icon, TV and radio presenter, social and cultural commentator, reluctant national treasure. At 5 feet 11 inches (116lb, 32in chest, 27in waist), in trademark suit jacket, skin-tight drainpipes and dark glasses, with jet-black back-combed hair and mouth full of gold teeth, he is instantly recognisable. As a writer his voice is equally unmistakable and his inimitable dry Salford drawl shines through the prose.

The superb classic memoir from a dazzlingly eccentric and endlessly fascinating author - a woman very much ahead of her time - including her time spent on the glorious island of Skiathos. Nancy Spain was one of the most celebrated - and notorious - writers and broadcasters of the '40s, '50s and '60s. Hilarious, controversial and brilliant, she lived openly as a lesbian (sharing a household with her two lovers and their various children) and was frequently litigated against for her newspaper columns - Evelyn Waugh successfully sued her for libel...twice.

The famed Internet personality - named one of Rolling Stone's Funniest People on Twitter and creator of the viral #notokay for women to share their stories of sexual assault - and best-selling author of Everything Is Perfect When You're a Liar turns her laser-like wit to anxiety, parenthood (or "the sheer insanity of being in charge of the safety and livelihood of three people besides myself"), popular culture, and more in this razor-sharp essay collection.

No Worries if Not is a funny, relatable coming-of-age story, that explores Soph Galustian's experiences of poverty, queerness, mental health, grief and community. She recounts her life from childhood, to teens, into adulthood through a mixture of short stories, spoken word, illustrations, and space for the listener to reflect (or draw tits...whatever you prefer).

An improv comedian all his life, and a standup comedian for over 15 years, Dave Gutteridge combines his comedy experience with the latest scientific research on humor and the human brain to offer his take on what exactly it is that makes us laugh. Whether you're trying to get a little funnier, on stage or in daily life, or if you're just curious about humor and laughter, this book will provide insights not only on how and why we laugh, but on how we relate.

From the hilarious Mara Altman, Gross Anatomy unapologetically explores the beautiful, and sometimes not so beautiful, aspects of our bodies and why they’re worth loving anyway. From hairy chins to braless outings, lice infestations to PMS, no body part is left undiscussed as Altman takes the listener on a wild journey from head to toe, recounting experiences most of us are too polite to share. Hugely funny and unashamedly body positive, this book is a must-listen for all women (and men, too).

For most of her life, Chrysta Bilton was one member of a small, if dysfunctional, family of four. There was her sister, Kaitlyn; her hedonistic, glamorous, gay mum, Debra; and Jeffrey, who Debra hand-picked, in an LA hairdressers, to be the father of her children. During Chrysta's unstable childhood, Debra struggled to keep the family afloat and Jeffrey wandered in and out of their lives. Then, in her 20s, Chrysta discovered that her father had secretly donated his sperm more than 500 times—and that she had at least 35 other siblings.

Eric Litsky brings us on a funny, rollicking, heartfelt trip down memory lane, from coming of age adventures, to growing up and still being the free-spirited and roguish adult that keeps the neighborhood on its toes. And then there was the time I nearly burnt down my house. I didn’t mean to. I blame it on the poor science education I received at PS 176. One afternoon I watched the movie “Young Tom Edison” on channel 9’s “Million Dollar Movie.” I thought it would be a great idea to invent something that would change the world.

In 2001 Will Young shot to fame as the first winner of Pop Idol. It was clear from the start that he would never be a typical pop star - and more than 10 years later he has become one of our best-loved and most intriguing artists. From his dramatic experiences on Pop Idol; to coming out in the glare of the media spotlight; to his valiant struggles against depression; to the crazy reality of being famous, Will is open about both the highs and lows of his life. He also provides sound and practical advice.

For the last 25 years, Jeff Silverman has been the President of YukYuk's comedy club: one of the world's largest stand-up comedy chains. With a career spanning more than forty years, Jeff has helped launchthe careers of Jim Carey, Howie Mandel and Russell Peters, and started his business career with the 99-cent Roxy Theatre back in the '70s, showcasing cult underground movie marathons. He went on to run the New Yorker Theatre and Horseshoe Tavern music venues, bringing in bands like The Police and The Ramones for the very first time.

How hard could it be? Michael Francis doesn’t know anything about gardening. Yet he decides to start a lawn-care and landscaping business. What could possibly go wrong? Eager to make a success of his ambitious new career, he relocates from New York to Greenwich, Connecticut, where he rents an apartment, buys some equipment, and promptly chops down the wrong tree. He soon learns that stinging nettles and shorts are not a good mix, as disaster looms behind every hedge.

Do you try to share the lessons you learned in life with your children? Do they listen? Karen S. Veazey shares with us more humorous life lessons she has tried to share with her children. This, her second book, contains 150 funny stories about family, friends, pets, growing up in the South, being married for decades, aging parents, and many other unlikely places to find humor. The lighthearted lessons learned will NOT give you the answers to life’s big questions, but they might help you find humor in life’s mishaps.

Never shy about pushing her only daughter to study harder, to dump her loser boyfriends, to move to 'less rapey' neighbourhoods, Kate's mum has given some truly hilarious but often sage advice over the years. It wasn't until Kate began sharing her mother's messages online that she realized quite how many people would find her mother as hysterical as she does. Over 700,000 people follow @CrazyJewishMom on Instagram, and this funny mother-daughter duo has been featured in media around the world.

Twenty of the world's greatest novelists live again! The authors take you on a magic carpet to the homes of these titans of literature, and you not only become their intimate friend but you acquire an even greater appreciation of their masterpieces.

In 1952 20th century entertainment icon Eddie Cantor survived his first heart attack. He coins the name cardiactor. Sixty years later, grandson Brian Gari undergoes a sudden open heart surgery and has a quadruple bypass. Little did Brian know at two and a half that his posing with his grandpa for the Heart Fund would end up being so prophetic. This is Brian's personal story of what you can expect (and not expect) when undergoing one of the most serious operations one can ever endure.

Leaving Cuba was traumatic for my family. Assimilating in Hoboken, New Jersey, was challenging and often comical. Situations that seemed insurmountable as a child are funny in retrospect...now that I know the outcome!

Does This Beach Make Me Look Fat? is a collection of funny stories and true confessions that every woman can relate to by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella - the unstoppable, irreverent mother-daughter team.

Dustin Brown, all-star captain of the 2012 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings, tells his story of how he went from being a youth hockey player in Ithaca, New York, to becoming one of the NHL's biggest stars.

Comedy writer, Mike McColl Jones, has lots of funny friends. Graham Kennedy, Bert Newton, Don Lane, Tommy Hanlon Jnr, Stuart Wagstaff, Steve Vizard, Frankie J. Holden... Mike has written for them all. In a career spanning decades, Mike has been an insider at television's funniest moments - on and off the screen. In My Funny Friends, Mike shares 'insiders' stories about the who's who of Australian television.