# The Funniest Book You Ever Read **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 10, 2000, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767 "2000-08-10T00:32:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/41 "2000-08-10T22:39:42Z")
Getting Even by Woody Allen. It’s basically short stories, humorous essays, philosophies, that sort of thing. There is one story in particular called: Viva Vargas! Excerpts from the Diary of a Revolutionary I rarely laugh out loud while reading but there is one scene where a flare goes off in some guy’s pocket. I can’t explain why but the first time I read it I was laughing so hard I couldn’t even continue reading. Every time I tried I would take a deep breath read that line and start laughing again. I remember my sister coming into my room to see what was so funny. She gave me a weird look when I told her, between gasps for air and wiping tears from my eyes, that it was a book. It was a long time ago but just thinking about it makes me smile. Think I’ll go dig it out of storage. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/42 "2000-08-10T23:41:43Z")
_Catch-22_ is the funniest book I’ve ever read. Close behind, among others, are everything by P. G. Wodehouse (espcially Bertie & Jeeves, and the School Stories), everything by Nick Hornby (especially _High Fidelity_), and everything by Tom Robbins (especially _Jitterbug Perfume_). Also: You must, must, **must** read _The Basic Eight_ by Daniel Handler. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/43 "2000-08-11T00:23:48Z")
One of the funniest I ever read (supplementing some of the excellent suggestions already) was a nonfiction title, _The Mother Tongue,_, by Bill Bryson. Traces the foibles of the English language from its early days through the late 20th century. Some truly laugh-out-loud passages. Also, _The Lazlo Letters_, by Don Novello (known to many of you as Father Guido Sarducci). It has since inspired several imitators, but it consisted of hilarious letters written to corporations and politicians in the guise of “Lazlo Toth” from 1973 to 1976, and the responses he received. If you do not wet yourself laughing at this book, you do **not** have a sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![CarlHollywood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@CarlHollywood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarlHollywood)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/44 "2000-08-11T01:39:40Z")
Catch-22 Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/45 "2000-08-11T01:48:16Z")
I’ll third Good Omens by Pratchett and Gaiman I’ll cheer with delight with Andygirl’s reference to the Concise Works of William Shakespeare (It was SOOO funny) I’ll heartily endorse Nick Earls as a very funny author particularly in reference to relationships today And I’ll humbly suggest the 8th Wheel of Time book. What do you mean it isn’t funny? It seemed like a big joke to me… ---
**Author:** ![rockstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockstar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/46 "2000-08-11T04:08:40Z")
I think my picks have already been said but I shall second the nominations: Slaughterhouse-Five and anything else by Kurt Vonnegut Catch-22 and anything by Douglas Adams ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/47 "2000-08-11T17:31:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*Sigh. I wish I could be more original. But I’d have to go with Jerome K. Jerome’s _Three Men in a Boat._ \*\* Well if you’re concerned about lack of originality for mentioning that, than I am hesitant to put in another vote for Dougie Adams, but I can’t resist. Clearly the funniest thing I’ve ever read. Incidently, I just started Pratchett’s _Small Gods_ this mourning (my first Pratchett) and I can’t wait to get more into it. Oh, I’ll put another vote for Vonnegut’s _Breakfast of Champions_ though I thought it dragged on a little near the end. I liked _The Sirens of Titan_ much more. And I was just going to mention Tom Robbins’ _Jitterbug Perfume_ and how I was surprised no one mentioned it yet, when upon scrolling down for a last quick check, I noticed I’m a few posts too late. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/48 "2000-08-11T17:32:49Z")
Boy, i really had nothing original to add to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Dumbguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dumbguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dumbguy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/49 "2000-08-11T17:56:39Z")
Read though the whole thread and was surprised to see no one had mentioned Catch-22, and then it made a big run in the last 5 posts. That would be my vote. I’ll also second Vonnegut and TC Boyle and add _The Child Buyer_ by John Hersey and _A Month of Sundays_ by John Updike. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/50 "2000-08-11T18:23:36Z")
Goodness, NONE of my favorites have been mentioned. And thanks to those book-search Web sites, you can easily find them: • “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes,” both purportedly by Anita Loos (though I have my doubts) • “Little Me” by Patrick Dennis • “Show Girl” and “Hollywood Girl” by J.P. McEvoy • And, of course, “The Portable Dorothy Parker” ---
**Author:** ![Tymp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Tymp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tymp)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/51 "2000-08-11T18:45:40Z")
One more vote each for _Good Omens_ and _Catch 22_. ---
**Author:** ![uberDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f04885/32.png) [@uberDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uberDave)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2000, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767/52 "2000-08-11T19:15:40Z")
Catch 22 and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Already mentioned but worth repeating. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-book-you-ever-read/28767.md?page=2)