Laughter – the cure for cabin fever

When the weather is still damp and gray, many of us in the Chicago area could use a good laugh. Experts say laughing helps us stretch our muscles and sends more oxygen to our tissues, so it’s good for the body and the mind.

Luckily many well-known comedians and nonfiction writers have made it easy to laugh along with them through the pages of their books. If you can’t make it out to a comedy club because of the snow and slush, you might enjoy some of these titles from the Glenview library’s shelves.

Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

So, here is the deal. Gaffigan has five children, even though for years he doubted he would marry, much less be a father. And he’s a father who takes his kids on the road (not the actual nightclubs and arenas where he performs his droll shtick) by driving across the country in a huge mobile home. Luckily for Gaffigan, his wife is the model of calm in the storm and keeps the family chugging along. Gaffigan is totally upfront describing his shortcomings when it comes to keeping kids in line. His life is preposterous, and that’s why it’s so entertaining. Gaffigan also narrates the audiobook.

You’re Not Doing it Right (Tales of Marriage, Sex, Death and other Humiliations) by Michael Ian Black
Who hasn’t had this kind of day? His wife, his therapist and his friends are telling him he needs to pull it together. And he’s not at all sure where it came apart. Black’s often crude approach to exposing his personal foibles makes for a relatable memoir from a comedian who has found success as a writer, director and actor on television and in film. With a treasure trove of memories about growing up in a household headed by his feminist lesbian mother and tales of his less-than-noble dating history, his entertaining stories make for roar-out-loud entertainment.

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

Veteran journalist and travel writer Bryson may not set out to be hilarious. It just turns out that way. This nonfiction tome sets Bryson amid the frightening creatures and rugged geographic features of the Australian outback. Running out of potable water? He has no problem; he’ll find a way to track down some beer. His descriptions of the killer wildlife can make your skin crawl, but keep your funny bone intact all the way through. Bryson’s thorough research is evident without making you aware you are learning a great deal about a largely uninhabited continent. Bryson also narrates the audiobook.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Wearing the mantle as her generation’s Lucille Ball, Fey reminisces about her childhood, her college years as a self-described dork and then marvels at her own success. Without a bit of ego, she gives readers a little insight into the cult that is Saturday Night Live. Fey’s memories are not of the tell-all variety;  instead she offers up a more wistful look at where life has taken her. Before the fame and fortune there were a lot of crummy gigs, which make for some of the most interesting and entertaining reading. Fey also narrates the audiobook.