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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.