14 Surprisingly Earnest, Insightful Excerpts from Novels Written by Comedians
![14 Surprisingly Earnest, Insightful Excerpts from Novels Written by Comedians](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/5/6/895456_320x180.jpg)
We mostly know them for their stand up or their silly characters, but mediums like podcasts and novels allow them to speak their minds without the pressure of that laugh-a-minute pace. Comedians, whether they’ve had Ivy league educations or dropped out of high school, are usually the smartest, most aware people in the room. It usually comes out in silly ways, but we know there’s a message hidden in there somewhere. Since dozens of the world’s best comedians have novels out there in the cosmos, we wanted to find the rare moments where the message wasn’t hidden behind the punchline.
They dropped gems, and we were eager to pick ‘em up. We liked their work enough to delve a little deeper into their lives. They hooked us. And hey, novels are long. We get a little autobiographical backstory, and yes we of course get some laughs (they can’t help it), but we were more than grateful for the takeaways. If you want joke after joke, buy a joke book. If you want surprisingly earnest and insightful moments from novels written by comedians, we rounded up 14 of them right here.
It seems like Tina Fey has had some bad bosses.
![GRACKED IN MOST CASES BEING A GOOD BOSS MEANS HIRING TALENTED PEOPLE, AND THEN GETTING OUT OF THEIR WAY. BOSSYPANTS Tina Fey won't clip your creative wings.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/6/2/894962.jpg)
Judd opens up about his fears.
![GRACKED SOMETIMES I ACTUALLY HAVE A PHOBIA OF FEELING GOOD. SICK IN THE HEAD Judd Apatow describes Cherophobia; the fear that feeling happiness will soon bring catastrophe.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/6/1/894961.jpg)
A little perspective on some people’s not-so ideal situations.
![GRACKED WE TELL PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS, BUT YOU CAN ONLY DREAM OF WHAT YOU CAN IMAGINE, AND, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU COME FROM, YOUR IMAGINATION CAN BE QUITE LIMITED. BORN A CRIME Trevor Noah reminds us how lucky we are to witness what can be accomplished.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/6/0/894960.jpg)
You know you’re getting gems when the book’s full title is, Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life.
![GRACKED JUST ACCEPT THAT YOU'RE NOT A GENIUS. ONCE I TOLD MYSELF THAT, I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY WRITE. DEAR GIRLS Ali Wong shuts off that judgey voice in her head, and you can too!](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/5/3/894953.jpg)
See! You can find inspiration in a book about bedwetting.
![GRACKED I WILL ALWAYS TRY TO BE HAPPY. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF HAPPINESS UNTIL THEY KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN THAT VERY, VERY DARK PLACE. IT'S NOT ROMANTIC. NOT EVEN A LITTLE. THE BEDWETTER Sarah Silverman on gratefulness when the depression lifts.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/5/9/894959.jpg)
We don’t need more jokes about “the road” or comedy itself.
![GRACKED I WANT TO EXPERIENCE AS MANY DIFFERENT TASTES, SIGHTS, EMOTIONS, CONFLICTS, AND CULTURES AS POSSIBLE, so THAT I CAN EXPAND THE CANVAS OF MY MEMORY AND ENRICH MY COMEDY. ZOMBIE SPACESHIP WASTELAND Patton Oswalt gives great advice to young comedians. Get out there and live!](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/5/7/894957.jpg)
Why not hyperfocus on the people and places that energize you?
![GRACKED I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT EVERY FEW YEARS ONE NEEDS TO SHAKE ONE'S LIFE THROUGH A SIEVE, LIKE A MINER IN THE YUKON. THE GOLD NUGGETS REMAIN. THE REST FALLS THROUGH LIKE THE SOFT EARTH IT IS. YES PLEASE For Amy Poehler, the gold isn't just for comedy. It's for life itself.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/5/0/894950.jpg)
It’s never enough for these toxic assholes, is it?
![GRACKED I'M GETTING MADE FUN OF BECAUSE I USED TO BE FAT? THE LAWS OF BULLYING ALLOW YOU TO BE CRUEL EVEN WHEN THE VICTIM HAS MADE STRIDES FOR IMPROVEMENT? THIS IS WHEN I REALIZED THAT BULLIES HAVE NO CODE OF CONDUCT. IS EVERYONE HANGING OUT WITHOUT ME? Mindy Kaling on living for no one but yourself.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/5/6/894956.jpg)
A very rare moment where Norm got real.
![GRACKED THE ONLY THING AN OLD MAN CAN TELL A YOUNG MAN IS THAT IT GOES FAST, REAL FAST, AND IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL IT'S TOO LATE. OF COURSE, THE YOUNG MAN WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THIS TRUTH. BASED ON A TRUE STORY: A MEMOIR Maybe this is why Norm Macdonald kept doing what he loved till the end. R.I.P.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/5/8/894958.jpg)
Every move you make as a parent isn’t the be-all and end-all.
![GRACKED FAILING AND LAUGHING AT YOUR OWN SHORTCOMINGS ARE THE HALLMARKS OF A SANE PARENT. DAD IS FAT Jim Gaffigan reminds us that parenting is hard, but we shouldn't take it so seriously.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/5/1/894951.jpg)
Some things can just be for you.
![GRACKED HEY, JUST 'CAUSE YOU WRITE SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN ANYONE HAS TO SEE IT OR HEAR IT. IT STILL EXISTS JUST AS MUCH AS ANYTHING ELSE DOES, WHICH IS PRETTY FLEETING. YEARBOOK 7 AC A ARDS Seth Rogen on doing what you love because it's what you love.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/5/2/894952.jpg)
There’s humor in self deprecation, but it can’t be the only outlet.
![GRACKED BE LED BY YOUR TALENT, NOT BY YOUR SELF-LOATHING; THOSE OTHER THINGS YOU JUST HAVE TO MANAGE. MY BOOKY WOOK Esqui G SIG DWNH Russell Brand on self deprecation as an artist. Talent first, then maybe actual therapy for the rest of it.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/4/9/894949.jpg)
Go on, get “blackout” in the club. I’ve got work to do!
![GRACKED SATURDAY NIGHT IS PERFECT FOR WRITERS BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE PLANS. SLEEPWALK WITH ME AND OTHER PAINFULLY TRUE STORIES For Mike Birbiglia, there's no FOMO if you love what you do.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/5/5/894955.jpg)
We love him, but now that he mentions it, it is a pretty punchable face.
![GRACKED I NOW HATE THE PHRASE 'THAT WILL WORK.' IT'S SUCH A MEDIOCRE GOAL TO SET FOR YOURSELF. A VERY PUNCHABLE FACE N Colin Jost calls out the more professional way of saying, It'll do.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/9/5/4/894954.jpg)