A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir

By Colin Jost


NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In these hilarious essays, the Saturday Night Live head writer and Weekend Update co-anchor learns how to take a beating.

If there’s one trait that makes someone well suited to comedy, it’s being able to take a punch—metaphorically and, occasionally, physically. 

From growing up in a family of firefighters on Staten Island to commuting three hours a day to high school and “seeing the sights” (like watching a Russian woman throw a stroller off the back of a ferry), to attending Harvard while Facebook was created, Jost shares how he has navigated the world like a slightly smarter Forrest Gump.

You’ll also discover things about Jost that will surprise and confuse you, like how Jimmy Buffett saved his life, how Czech teenagers attacked him with potato salad, how an insect laid eggs inside his legs, and how he competed in a twenty-five-man match at WrestleMania (and almost won). You'll go behind the scenes at SNL and Weekend Update (where he's written some of the most memorable sketches and jokes of the past fifteen years). And you’ll experience the life of a touring stand-up comedian—from performing in rural college cafeterias at noon to opening for Dave Chappelle at Radio City Music Hall.

For every accomplishment (hosting the Emmys), there is a setback (hosting the Emmys). And for every absurd moment (watching paramedics give CPR to a raccoon), there is an honest, emotional one (recounting his mother’s experience on the scene of the Twin Towers’ collapse on 9/11). Told with a healthy dose of self-deprecation, A Very Punchable Face reveals the brilliant mind behind some of the dumbest sketches on television, and lays bare the heart and humor of a hardworking guy—with a face you can’t help but want to punch.

Reviews:

“I always wanted to punch his face before I read this book. Now I just want to kick him in the balls.” — Larry David

“This is a good memoir in that it proves Jost is . . . not the things we think of him. He’s lived a colorful life, he’s a dutiful student of comedy, and his book is so well-written one realizes that his voice has immensely shaped the tone of SNL for many years.” — Vulture

“Colin Jost is as funny as his face is punchable. Which is to say: very. He also knows a lot about Staten Island, soiling himself, internal parasites, and firemen’s pensions. He’s really the whole package. And if you care about comedy—writing it, performing it, watching it, or giving up any semblance of a normal adult life for it—so is his book.” — Zadie Smith
 
“Colin Jost is one of the best people I know and one hell of a writer. This book proves both to be true.” — Seth Meyers

“I was caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this book, considering how indifferent I feel about Colin as a person.” — Amy Schumer

“An inspiring story that reminds us that if you are born with looks and talent, you can still make it.” — Conan O’Brien

“I think this book is fantastic. I haven’t read a single word of it, but it’s got everything I want in a book—a front, a back, a good spine. And it’s got some heft. Whoever wrote this book knew what she was doing. Well done.” — Michael Che

Colin Jost. Crown, $27 (336p) ISBN 978-1101906323

Dirty Daddy by Bob Saget

By Bob Saget


New York Times bestseller • Millions of viewers know and love Bob Saget from his role as the sweetly neurotic father Danny Tanner on the smash hit Full House, and as the charming wisecracking host of America's Funniest Home Videos. And then there are the legions of fans who can't get enough of his scatological, out-of-his-mind stand-up routines, comedy specials, and outrageously profane performances in such shows as HBO's Entourage and the hit documentary The Aristocrats.

In his bold and wildly entertaining publishing debut, he continues to embrace his dark side and gives readers the book they have long been waiting for—hilarious and often dirty. Bob believes there's a time and a place for filth. From his never-before-heard stories of what really went on behind the scenes of two of the most successful family shows of all times, with co-stars like John Stamos and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, to his tales of legendary friends and colleagues like Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Pryor, Don Rickles, and other show business legends, Saget opens up about some of his personal experiences with life and death, his career, and his reputation for sick humor—all with his highly original blend of silliness, vulgarity, humor and heart, and all framed by a man who loves being funny above all else.

Reviews:

“Hilarious and at times heartbreaking . . .” — Vanity Fair

“Equal parts smut and sincerity . . .” -- Larry King Now

“Both funnier and darker than you might expect . . .” -- AskMen.com

Bob Saget. Dey Street, $16 (272p) ISBN 978-0062274793

American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot

By Craig Ferguson


In his memoir American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson, host of The Late, Late Show, traces his journey from working-class Glasgow to the comedic limelight of Hollywood and American citizenship. Moving and achingly funny, American on Purpose moves from Ferguson’s early life as an alcoholic to his stint on The Drew Carey Show to his decision to become a U.S. citizen in its unique and honest look at his version of the American dream.

Reviews:

“A fine writer, witty, reflective, and candid.... Ferguson is a kinetic cutup teeming with foolishness, brilliance, defiance, and heart. All this is captured in his book as an entertaining connect-the-dots journey.” — Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

“Hilariously vivid.” — People

“Funny and poignant and inspirational and brilliant. Nowhere in his story of emigration and redemption does Craig Ferguson realize that as lucky as he thinks he is to be ‘American on Purpose,’ we are luckier still to have him.” — Keith Olbermann

“With American on Purpose, Craig Ferguson somehow manages to avoid the pitfalls of self-indulgence and self-importance that plague most (okay, all) Hollywood autobiographies. He has, instead, written a book that is hilarious and irrepressibly daft, yet also kind, poignant, and undeniably wise. It was a joy to read.” — Dennis Lehane, author of The Given Day

“A great read . . . almost as good as my memoir.” — Carrie Fisher, author of Wishful Drinking

“Ferguson has given us a biographical treatment that is both brutally honest and inspirational…American on Purpose is a book that should be read.” — Chicago Sun-Times

“Hilarious and revealing...witty and emotional.” — The Daily Beast

Craig Ferguson. Harper, $15 (268p) ISBN 978-0061719547

By Betty White

 


A memoir of Betty White's first five decades on television—as irreverent and irresistible as the beloved actress herself—filled “with inspiring cheerfulness” (The New York Times).

Betty White first appeared on television in 1949 and went on to have one of the most amazing careers in TV history, starring in shows such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls, among many others. She was one of the hardest-working actresses of any era, and her sense of humor and perennial optimism carried her through decades of industry changes and delighted millions of fans.

Here We Go Again is a behind-the-scenes look at Betty’s career from her start on radio to her first show, Hollywood on Television, to several iterations of The Betty White Show and much, much more. Packed with wonderful anecdotes about famous personalities and friendships, stories of Betty’s off-screen life, and the comedienne’s trademark humor, this deliciously entertaining book will give readers an entrée into Betty’s fascinating life, confirming yet again why this funny lady was one of the most memorable and beloved actresses of all time.

Reviews:

“A chatty, readable account…with inspiring cheerfulness.” — The New York Times

" [An] entertaining and insightful autobiography. White’s love of friends, family, work, and animals comes shining through these pages, as does her high-energy pleasant personality.” — Library Journal

Betty White. Scribner, $19 (321p) ISBN 9781451613698

If You Ask Me: (And of Course You Won't)

By Betty White

 


The New York Times bestseller from the beloved actress and Hollywood icon who's made us laugh on shows from The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Golden Girls to Saturday Night Live!

In this candid take on everything from the unglamorous reality behind red-carpet affairs to her beauty regimen (“I have no idea what color my hair is, and I never intend to find out”), Betty White shares her observations about life, celebrity, and love (for humans and animals). Filled with photos, If You Ask Me is funny, sweet, and straight to the point—just like Betty.

Reviews:

“Reads like a chat with the beloved star.” — The Denver Post

“A breezy patchwork of musings on aging, acting, poker (she plays a monthly game) and pet ownership.” — The New York Times

"This book was an absolute delight to read. I adored every minute of it. Unlike most celebrities who have an ego higher than the Empire State Building, Betty White is a down-to-earth lovable woman who I wish could be immortal." — Alice, thealleycat7

Betty White. Berkley, $17 (272p) ISBN 978-0425245286