7 Of The Funniest Short Story Collections I've Ever Read

Here are some books I recommend to readers with a funny bone.

My Life in Heavy Metal by Steve Almond

Via popmatters.com

Almond is not only a master of lyrical prose, but also of the hilarious line. The stories in Heavy Metal revolve mostly around young Americans as they navigate the complicated worlds of love and sex, and Almond doesn't shy away from delving into the awkward through the funny. Whether he's likening nipples to Frankenstein's bolts or recounting a shameful encounter with a girlfriend's mother, Almond's first book reveals him to be an exacting and funny master of the craft. Also, did you know that he teaches humor writing at a writing tutoring center in Boston?

Birds of America by Lorrie Moore

Via stlawu.edu

Lorrie Moore is the writer I go to for instruction on every aspect of craft: her characters are unforgettable, her dialogue compelling and witty, and her grasp on the language unmatched. It's no surprise that Jonathan Lethem called her the most irresistible contemporary American author. Birds of America is Moore at her absolute funniest. Pick up the collection and start with any story: the laughter will soon follow.

Hot Pink by Adam Levin

McSweeney's / Via store.mcsweeneys.net

A student of George Saunders at Syracuse, one shouldn't be surprised at how funny Adam Levin is. Right from the beginning of the collection, Levin grabs the reader with his side-splitting, often shocking, use of humor. Levin's mastery is in his ability to create indelible characters--from Susan Falls, who wears snowpants everywhere, to a toy-maker targeting girls with self-esteem issues. Read this damn book, and honestly, you'll realize that Levin's art is a brilliant blend of Saunders and Seth MacFarlane, with a dash of David Foster Wallace.

This Too Can Be Yours by Beth Lisick

Via bethlisick.com

Beth Lisick understands, like Louis CK, how to render an awkward yet compelling scene. What do you do if during a word association game you accidentally say the word "porn" after "child"? How do you handle being hired as poetry entertainment for a private party? Read Lisick's book, and discover a versatile and talented writer of short fiction. Maybe Lisick, who spent a year reading self-help, will shed some insight on how to handle life's most awkward encounters.

Calculating How Big of a Tip to Give is the Easiest Thing Ever, Shout Out to My Family and Friends by Steve Roggenbuck

Josh Spilker

Roggenbuck is an experimental genius. His most recent book of stories is a whacky, surreal, Adventure Time-esque collection that never neglects to point the reader to the most important issues: war, sexism, classism, and neglect of the environment. Roggenbuck's art is quite accessible--one need only check out his Youtube channel to experience his poetry--however, I think this slender volume is Roggenbuck's best work yet.

One More Thing by BJ Novak

It shouldn't be a surprise that Novak, an Emmy Winner for his work on The Office, is also a hilarious story writer. The book doesn't follow one particular theme, but rather, reads as a collection of Novak's ideas, revealing that Novak's genius spans into the surreal ("The Rematch") and satirical ("The Comedy Central Roast of Nelson Mandela" and "Chris Hansen at the Justin Bieber Concert"). One is reminded of Vonnegut's classic Welcome to the Monkey House when considering the sheer vastness of Novak's comedic scope. Who knew his funny couldn't be contained within the walls of Dunder Mifflin?

Reasons to Live by Amy Hempel

Via rockdelux.com

Reasons to Live doesn't sound like the title of a funny book, yet Hempel investigates grief, loss, and love through a darkly humorous lens. Hempel, a brilliant practitioner of the short-short story, is most known for her widely loved piece "In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson is Buried", but even that story has its share of funny parts. The funniest piece in the collection, in my mind, is a brief little story called "The Man in Bagota." Ultimately, Hempel's art asks, If you can't laugh in the most tragic of times, when can you laugh?