Humour

The hilarious trials and tribulations of stand-up comedian Paul Tonkinson as he attempts to beat the much lauded 3-hour mark at the London Marathon.

Along the way, we are introduced to the characters helping Paul with his quest. Celebrity names such as Bryony Gordon, Russell Howard, Roisin Conaty and Vassos Alexander pop up with wit and wisdom, alongside an alpine adventure to the Mayr Clinic with Michael McIntyre that pushes Paul to the limit. And not forgetting the 'words of wisdom' and derision from Paul's anti-running friend, Richard.

With a supporting cast of fellow comedians, this is a warmly written and wonderfully honest adventure-through-sport that will both entertain and inspire.

"I vowed from a young age never to cook a turkey and I never have - unless you count turkey mince (which you don't). I've seen the damage turkeys can do and the tyrannical hold they have over otherwise robust, rational people and my mother. My mother is not a foodie. But for as long as I can remember, once a year, she becomes possessed of a profound and desperate need to serve up a perfect roast turkey. Faced with a walk into the village though, she might think 'oh, fuck it' and decide to get a frozen one from Bejams on the 23rd and leave it to defrost in the downstairs toilet for not quite 48 hours."

From dry turkeys to Christmas pudding fires, from the perfect present for teacher to the risks and rewards of re-gifting, Nina Stibbe offers her inimitable wisdom and humour on the most wonderful time of the year.

What makes us happy? Bill Bailey plays crazy golf and hugs trees to find out.

Is there a knack to being happy? From paddle-boarding down the Thames in a Santa hat, to wild swimming in a glacial river and cooking sausages on a campfire, Bill revels in the exhilaration of the outdoors, as well as the quieter pleasures of letter-writing, or of simple reflection.

In this beautiful and uplifting audiobook, Bill Bailey explores all this and more while delving into the nature of happiness, all in his own, remarkable, way.

Packed with wisdom and humour, Bill Bailey aims for the heart of pure joy and contentment - and how we can all achieve it.

In 2011, comedian and podcaster Rosie Wilby was dumped by email... though she did feel a little better about it after correcting her ex's spelling and punctuation. Obsessing about breakups ever since, she embarked on a quest to investigate, understand and conquer the psychology of heartbreak.

This book is a love letter to her breakups, a celebration of what they have taught her peppered with anecdotes from illustrious friends and interviews with relationship therapists, scientists and sociologists about separating in the modern age of ghosting, breadcrumbing and conscious uncoupling.

Mixing humour, memoir and science, she attempts to assimilate their advice and ideas in order to not break up with Girlfriend, her partner of nearly three years. Will this self-confessed serial monogamist, and breakup addict, finally settle down?

The 2 Johnnies' massive success has taken them as far afield as Sydney, Compton and Abu Dhabi. But for them nothing compares to living in Ireland. And in C'Mere and I Tell Ya they dig into the tastes, habits and rites of passage that have made them who they are.

Whether it's... Dressing for the debs, succeeding in a band, doing a Strictly fundraiser for your GAA club, or recognizing the no-go moves at a stag... Johnny B (O'Brien) and Johnny Smacks (McMahon) capture it perfectly. And they have down-to-earth advice for every conceivable situation - and a few inconceivable ones.

When he buys a beach house on the Carolina coast, Sedaris envisions long, relaxing vacations spent playing board games and lounging in the sun with those he loves most. And life at the Sea Section, as he names the vacation home, is exactly as idyllic as he imagined, except for one tiny, vexing realization: it's impossible to take a vacation from yourself.

Hello to you. I have written a short story, or Tall Tale as I like to call it, because I believe we all deserve moments to cosy up with something simple yet joy-filled and uplifting. If I may be so bold about my own tale!

It contains, amongst many thrills I couldn't possibly divulge yet, intriguing and exciting mishaps between a Christmas tree that not only talks, but dances (I know!); a dog called Jessie, who also talks, and a woman called Joan, who - less surprisingly, in that she is a human being - talks too. Interested? I should blooming well hope so!

Right, let me tell you all about it...

Tom Phillips (Humans; Truth) and Jonn Elledge (The Compendium of Not Quite Everything) team up to debunk the greatest conspiracy theories humans have ever espoused - to teach us how not to fall for them.

From the Satanic Panic to the anti-vaxx movement, it's always been human nature to believe we're being lied to by the powers that be (and sometimes, to be fair, we absolutely are).

But while it can be fun to indulge in a bit of Deep State banter on the family Whatsapp group, recent times have shown us that some of these theories have taken on a life of their own - and in our dogged quest for the truth, it appears we might actually be doing it some damage.

In Conspiracy, Tom Phillips and Jonn Elledge take us on a fascinating, insightful and often hilarious journey through conspiracy theories old and new, to try and answer an important question: how can we learn to log off the QAnon message boards, and start trusting hard evidence again?

By turns poignant, comic and uplifting, this is a book of stories, all of them true, though sometimes perhaps a little bent out of shape in the telling. Sometimes things are more ordinary than you think. And sometimes they're a whole lot odder than you can possibly imagine.

Danny Wallace heard about a manhole cover, on a small street, in a small town, tucked away in a remote part of Idaho. The manhole cover had been declared the Centre of the Universe. And the name of the town? Wallace. It was a cosmic coincidence Danny couldn't resist... Quick Reads.

Welcome to Jeremy's farm. It's an idyllic spot, offering picturesque views across the Cotswolds, bustling hedgerows, woodlands and natural springs. Jeremy always liked the idea being a farmer. But, while he was barrelling around the world having more fun with cars than was entirely reasonable, it seemed obvious that the actual, you know, farming was much better left to someone else

Then one day he decided he would do the farming himself.

After all, how hard could it be?

Well . . .

Faced with suffocating red tape, biblical weather, local objections, a global pandemic and his own frankly staggering ignorance of how to 'do farming', Jeremy soon realises that turning the farm around is going to take more than splashing out on a massive tractor.

Fortunately, there's help at hand from a large and (mostly) willing team, including girlfriend Lisa, Kaleb the Tractor Driver, Cheerful Charlie, Ellen the Shepherd and Gerald, his Head of Security and Dry Stone Waller. Between them they enthusiastically cultivate crops, rear livestock and hens, keep bees, bottle spring water and open a farm shop. But profits remain elusive.

And yet while the farm may be called Diddly Squat for good reason, Jeremy soon begins to understand that it's worth a whole lot more to him than pounds, shillings and pence . . .

The show has been called off. The show must go on.... Penguin is proud to bring you its very own audio comedy festival, featuring acts who would have performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2020, developed in association with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

Containing nearly eight hours of hilarious original material from some of the finest comedians on the circuit, listeners can laugh along as Jordan Brookes takes you on a disastrous guided meditation session, Sofie Hagen lifts the lid on her Westlife fan fiction days, and just as Shakespeare did during the plague, Ivo Graham tucks into his version of King Lear during the lockdown. 

Featuring household names, through to debut acts, as well as being compered by Scotland's very own Fern Brady, Edinburgh Unlocked is the unmissable comedy festival that you can attend without leaving your living room.

Mark Barrowcliffe, along with twenty million other boys in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s was hooked on fantasy role-playing games. This book is his attempt to understand why!

Daniel Sloss's stand-up comedy engages, enrages, offends, unsettles, educates, comforts, and gets audiences roaring with laughter - all at the same time. In his groundbreaking specials, seen on Netflix and HBO, he has brilliantly tackled everything from male toxicity and friendship to love, romance, and marriage - and claims (with the data to back it up) that his on-stage laser-like dissection of relationships has single-handedly caused more than 300 divorces and 120,000 breakups. Now, in his first book, he picks up where his specials left off, and goes after every conceivable kind of relationship - with one's country (Sloss's is Scotland); with America; with lovers, ex-lovers, ex-lovers who you hate, ex-lovers who hate you; with parents; with best friends (male and female), not-best friends; with children; with siblings; and even with the global pandemic and our own mortality. 

Every single one of Stephen Fry's ties - whether floral, fluorescent, football themed; striped or spotty, outrageous or simply debonair - tells an intimate tale about a moment in Stephen's life. Inspired by Stephen's hugely popular Instagram posts, this book will celebrate his expansive collection of man's greatest clothing companion: The Tie, in all it's sophisticated glory. Distinctively funny and offering witty asides, facts and personal stories, this book will make the perfect gift for anyone who has ever worn a tie.

Taking in the momentous events of 2012, including the Jubilee celebrations and preparations for the London Olympics, these diaries reveal the seldom-seen workings of state and reveal how an octogenarian is quietly ruling the world and still has time for a gin.

Meet The Bear - a cat who carries the weight of the world on his furry shoulders, and whose wise, owl-like eyes seem to ask, 'Can you tell me why I am a cat, please?' Tom, writes with his usual wit and charm about the unexpected adventures that go hand in hand with a life at the beck and call of four cats.

On a mission to understand the mysteries of modern life I became a human guinea pig. I immersed myself in a series of experiments. I changed the way I thought, talked and looked. I followed old wisdom and new science. I saw the world from the eyes of a woman. I followed the wisdom of George Washington and I outsourced my life.

William and Jordan are from very different worlds.

William's an etiquette expert, with his tongue firmly in his teacup and unparalleled knowledge of table linen. Jordan's a TV and radio presenter, the patron saint of Burnley and an expert in all things common. Together they've entertained millions of listeners worldwide with their hit podcast Help I Sexted My Boss.

Now, they've pooled all of their wisdom on how to get through life's most awkward moments.

From candlelight suppers to picky teas, first dates to flatmate dramas, Help I Sexted My Boss is full of both useful and useless advice. This is your indispensable guide to navigating the trepidation and challenges of modern life.

The fictionalized memoirs of Harry Secombe's elder brother, Fred, provide a humorous account of life in the Welsh Valleys just after World War II. His experiences as a curate give him an insight into the foibles of a small community.

George Mikes's perceptive manual for everyone who longs to attain True Britishness provides a complete guide to the British Way of Life. Having been born in Hungary, he eventually spent more than forty years in the field, and the fruits of his labour include insights on important topics including the weather, how to be rude and how to panic quietly. 

Loved by readers and authors alike, How to Be a Brit contains Mikes's three major works - How to be an Alien, How to be Inimitable and How to be Decadent. If you're British, you'll love it; if you're a foreigner, you'll appreciate it.

Now with an introduction from Dolly Alderton, author of Everything I Know About Love, revealing how a new generation of women can take inspiration from Nora's sharp wit and wisdom about life.

Never marry a man you wouldn't want to be divorced from.

If the shoe doesn't fit in the shoe store, it's never going to fit.

When your children are teenagers, it's important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you.

If only one third of your clothes are mistakes, you're ahead of the game.

Anything you think is wrong with your body at the age of thirty-five you will be nostalgic for by the age of forty-five.

Maureen Lipman has the knack of making the everyday supremely entertaining, and this collection of pieces sparkles with her inimitable prose and pithy opinions. Also includes a selection of brilliant monologues which capture Maureen's voice in wonderfully diverse ways.

This collection of unpublished letters to the Daily Telegraph features opinions on everything from the London Olympics to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, as well as the rather more obscure concerns voiced by ‘M’, the habitual correspondent who believes himself to be the head of MI5 but writes from an internet café in Bristol.

In this collection of comic verse, Des brings his irrepressible humour and mischievous delight to subjects ranging from satnav nightmares to the perils of sorting the recycling; from the recipe for a happy love life to surviving children's parties.

From the perils of French dentistry to the eating habits of the Australian kookaburra, and the squat-style toilets of Beijing to the particular wilderness of a North Carolina Costco, we learn about the absurdity and delight of a curious traveller's experiences. Sedaris takes us on side-splitting adventures that are not to be forgotten.

Whether we love it or hate it, work has a huge affect on our lives and in recent times working life has totally changed. So what is life really like at work today? Some of these stories will make you laugh and some might make you cry. The one thing they all share is that you can never be sure what your working day will bring. Quick Reads.

The delightful musings of a baby who systematically brings chaos and havoc into the lives of his parents. Contains 'How To Be A Little Sod'; 'Little Sod's Next Step' and 'Not Another Little Sod'.

How should you eat peas, and behave in queues? How to behave, like how to punctuate, is an aspect of life that many are no longer taught. Thankfully, Sandi Toksvig has come to the rescue with her entertaining guide to modern manners, with characteristic wit and perceptiveness.

For over ten years, Sue Townsend has written a monthly column for Sainsbury's Magazine. Collected here, they form a set of pieces from one of Britain's most popular and acclaimed writers that are funny, perceptive and touching.

Most of us know our limitations, especially when it comes to a career choice. We watch documentaries about A&E departments and the heroes who work there, and we think no. Oh no, thanks very much. We wouldn't have the nerve, or the stamina, or the resilience to do THAT.

But who amongst us hasn't looked at the woeful performance of a prime minister and thought: 'Really, is that all there is to it? Even I could do that'.

Now is your opportunity to familiarise yourself with what the job of prime minister actually is. This satirical and illuminating guide takes you through the craft and mystery of it all - packed full of quizzes, personality tests, word searches and much more - to see if you've got what it takes.

As Roger Morgan-Grenville prepares for a new season with the White Hunter Cricket Club, he is starting to feel his age, so he embarks on a secret plan of coaching, yoga and psychology to improve his game. This is the humorous and heartwarming story of that cricket season, an uplifting tale of friendship among a team of not-very-good players who find enough moments of near brilliance to remind them why they love the game of cricket.

Let Virginia Ironside take you through the top twenty reasons why getting old is good for you - and let the young and dumb keep their callow youth!

This bumper collection of the funniest anecdotes, jokes and stories from cricket's best-loved personalities proves that cricket is a funny game - even when rain stops play! In this special audio edition, you can hear not only the most popular stories told by five of the game's all-time great characters - Richie Benaud, Dickie Bird, Henry Blofeld, Brian Johnston and Fred Trueman - but also the humour of famous cricketers such as Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff, Justin Langer, Shane Warne, and modern players including Jimmy Anderson, Joe Root and Ben Stokes. Here are dozens of hilarious anecdotes from around the world about the legendary cricketers Geoffrey Boycott, Donald Bradman, Michael Holding, Sachin Tendulkar and many others - not to mention broadcasting gaffes and giggles, sledging, short-sighted umpires and the phantom sock snipper in the England dressing-room!

From the legendary drag performers, musical artists, comedians and Sunday Times bestselling authors of Trixie and Katya's Guide to Modern Womanhood, Working Girls will be a satirical how-to on everything you need to know to get the job of your dreams and keep it.

Romans! Madrigals! The Dark Ages! Evolutions! Trumpets! The Oranges of The First World War!

All of this (except trumpets) and more is covered in this definitive, illustrated, easy-clean history of all world history so far, written by the twenty-first century's leading historian, philosopher and thought-thinker, Philomena Cunk.

Focusing on the inventions, art and brainboxes that made the modern world the unbearable place it is today, The World According to Cunk is the history book to end all history books. From the birth of the first baby caveman to the invention of the poo emoji. Some say history is written by the Victors. But they're wrong - it's written by the Philomenas. Well, a Philomena. The one on the cover. Yes, her, from TikTok.