7 Books Funnier Than a Front-Row Seat at a Comedy Show

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In the past, I didn’t really associate books with comedy. That is not to say that I had never read a book that made me laugh—certain scenes in random books can be humorous or even downright hilarious. But I never really went to books for humour; I never imagined that humour could be central to the concerns of a book.

So, imagine my surprise—and delight—the first time I read a book that did not just make me laugh occasionally but had humour woven into its very narration, with a joke in almost every paragraph. A book whose entire enterprise was based on humour. That book was Zadie Smith’s White Teeth; and I have eagerly sought out books like that ever since.

In our latest book recommendation, we have compiled a list of books that are funnier than a front-row seat at a comedy show. From the story of the childhood of one of Africa’s foremost comedians to a biting satire about the Nigerian society, the books on this list will certainly make your belly rumble with laughter.