Comedy Audiobooks | LoveReading

Love Triangle: The Life-changing Magic of Trigonometry

Brought to you by Penguin. Why do mobile phones work when you're on a train? What happens when you pull a pop song apart into pure sine waves and play it back on a piano? And what did mathematicians have to do with the great pig stampede of 2012? The answer to each of these questions can be found in the triangle. Humans have been using triangles for thousands of years to build structures, measure the earth, make music, paint vanishing points, pot snooker balls and much, much more. But trigonometry is not a thing of the past - triangles underpin all of modern data technology. When someone Snapchats a photo, the light travels into the camera as electromagnetic sine waves, Fourier analysis compresses the image and then trigonometry is used to send the data to someone else's phone; when you listen to a track on Spotify, triangles remove the sounds which a human ear can't perceive and reassemble the song so that it's small enough to stream. Triangles are the hidden pattern beneath the surface of the contemporary world. Join Matt Parker, stand-up comedian and author of the first ever maths book to be a No. 1 bestseller, as he uncovers the secrets of trigonometry and shares extraordinary stories about the mathematicians, philosophers and engineers who dared to take triangles seriously. © Matt Parker 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024

Matt Parker (Author), Matt Parker, TBD (Narrator)

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I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This: (But I'm Going to Anyway)

"It's f*cking great!!! Raw, intimate, hilarious, actually inspiring." -Jon Stewart A dynamic memoir-in-essays by comedian, screenwriter, and podcaster Chelsea Devantez, detailing her tumultuous upbringing and uproarious career path into Hollywood. There are things Chelsea Devantez probably shouldn't be telling you. Many of them are in this book: some are embarrassing (like when she tried to break her three year spell of celibacy using a guide of seduction tips). Some are confessional (getting sentenced to the "hell hill" at Mormon church camp). Some are TMI (a series of outrageous doctor visits that ended with one doctor misdiagnosing her as "pregnant." Woopsies!). Then there are things Chelsea really shouldn't be telling you: like the time her biggest family secret was publicly outed, or about the drive-by shootings and the precipitating domestic violence she survived. Yet through it all, it's the women in Chelsea's life who kept her going - from the lowest points of her childhood when she and her mom had only $100 left to their name, all the way to her career highs as the Emmy-nominated Head Writer for The Problem with Jon Stewart and sensational podcaster deemed "the celebrity memoir whisperer" by her fans. In I Shouldn't Be Telling You This, Chelsea centers each story around a different woman who shaped her life, taking us on a tour of friends and strangers, fictional characters and celebrities, heroes and villains who will destroy any Netflix algorithm for a "strong female lead." Reading it will feel kinda like that moment at a party when your friend beckons you close, sloshes her martini around, and covertly whispers, "I really shouldn't say this, but…"

Chelsea Devantez (Author), Chelsea Devantez, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

How Was It for You?: Stories from a sex worker

Eve Smith (Author), Chloe Massey, TBD (Narrator)

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10 Truths of Sitcom Writing

The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual is a comprehensive guide to the UCB style of long form comedy improvisation. Written by UCB founding members Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh, the manual covers everything from the basics of two person scene work (with a heavy emphasis on finding 'the game' of the scene), to the complexities of working within an ensemble to perform long form structures, such as 'The Harold' and 'The Movie'. A practical 'how to' book, the guide provides exercises throughout to help the reader master each new concept and technique introduced. While the manual is written to be understood by beginners with no previous exposure to improvisational comedy, experienced improvisors will find it to be an excellent resource for honing their skills, clarifying concepts, and generally taking their work to a higher level.

Upright Citizens Brigade (Author), TBD (Narrator)

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The Elephant Man: A BBC Radio 4 Sitcom

A hapless elephant keeper must do everything he can to save his failing zoo Terry Lyon, assistant head keeper of Southwood Zoo, trusts animals because most people think he’s a waste of space. But as the zoo lurches towards bankruptcy, his future looks bleak. As if managing hungry elephants and contrary polar bears wasn’t complicated enough, the humans in Terry’s life pose their own challenges. Having had to move back in with his parents after his divorce, life becomes complicated when Terry’s ex Margaret starts seeing his best friend Richard. Peter Serafinowicz leads a full cast in this hilarious comedy about a man trying to salvage his career and his love life, all while keeping his bank balance from being redder than a baboon’s bottom. Terry works alongside his formidable, management speaking boss Miss Stonewick and the taciturn yet competitive head keeper, Leonard. As a big birthday looms over Terry, he’s hoping that romance can blossom amidst the chaos of feeding time, tax returns and redundancies… Alistair McGowan and Debra Stephenson also feature in this larger-than-life sitcom. The Elephant Man writer, Debbie Barham, began working in comedy aged 15 and died tragically young aged 26 after a long battle with anorexia. In her short but brilliant career she wrote for Spitting Image, The News Quiz, Weekending and Loose Ends, as well as for big names like Bob Monkhouse, Graham Norton, Rory Bremner and Clive Anderson. ‘The unsung queen of comedy.’ The Telegraph ‘She could be rude enough to make even Graham Norton blush.’ Ned Sherrin ‘A truly extraordinary person.’ Clive Anderson Cast and credits Written by Debbie Barham Produced by Richard Wilson Terry - Peter Serafinowicz Leonard - Chris Emmett Maureen - Geraldine Fitzgerald Derek/Morse/Mr Bull - Wayne Forester George - Geoff Fitzgerald Stephanie - Joanna Munro Adam - Richard Pearce Sammy - Nicola Walker Elsa - Jane Dolamore Barry Norman/David Attenborough - Alistair McGowan The Waitress/Secretary - Debra Stephenson First broadcast on BBC Radio 2, August - October 1996 Endangered Species - 27 Aug 1996 It Could Be the Zoo - 3 Sep 1996 Keeper Vs Keeper - 10 Sept 1996 While the Cat’s Away - 17 Sep 1996 All Features Great and Small - 24 Sept 1996 Labour Pains - 1 Oct 1996 Age Concern - 8 Oct 1996 Early Closing Day - 15 Oct 1996 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Debbie Barham (Author), Alistair Mcgowan, Chris Emmett, Debra Stephenson, Full Cast, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Joanna Munro, Nicola Walker, Peter Serafinowicz, Richard Pearce, Wayne Forester (Narrator)

Audiobook

Birds Aren't Real: The True Story of Mass Avian Murder and the Largest Surveillance Campaign in US H

The true story of the greatest conspiracy in US history—and how to fight back. Have you ever seen a baby pigeon? You haven’t, have you? No one has, not in many, many years. They used to be everywhere. You couldn’t walk out of your front door in New York City in the 1930s without seeing dozens of those little guys scurrying around. Today, there are millions of grown up pigeons in New York, but not a baby pigeon to be seen. That’s because they come out of the factory as adults. This is one of the many smoking guns of the bird drone surveillance crisis. Since 1959, the Deep State has mercilessly slaughtered over 12 billion birds and replaced them with identical drones that are designed to spy on private citizens and report their every action directly to the government. From pet canaries to Sesame Street, the shadowy figures that pull the strings have infiltrated every aspect of our society, making a mockery of civil liberties while the American people live in blissful ignorance. Until now. In Birds Aren’t Real, whistleblowers Peter McIndoe and Connor Gaydos trace the roots of a political conspiracy so vast and well-hidden that it almost seems like an elaborate hoax. These hero Bird Truthers have risked life and limb to compile and disseminate a treasure trove of information about the origins of the surveillance crisis, its spread, and the patriots who are on the front lines today, raising awareness and working to reclaim America as the land of the free. This urgent manifesto features a host of useful illustrations, activities, and leaked classified documents that will convince even the most outspoken skeptic that birds aren’t real. The truth is out there: will you stand and fight before it’s too late?

Connor Gaydos, Peter Mcindoe (Author), Connor Gaydos, Peter Mcindoe, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Any Bloke: The Complete Series 1 and 2: A BBC Radio 4 Sitcom

Classic radio comedy from the BBC starring Caroline Quentin and Jim Sweeney Life for supply teacher, Phil (Jim Sweeney), is turned upside down when his wife, Sarah (Caroline Quentin) is offered a new job. Phil agrees to give up work and become a stay-at-home dad to daughter Sophie - after all, how hard can it be? Phil quickly realises parenthood isn’t all coffee mornings and cake. He has to grapple with playgroups (when he can find them), new friends (some a little more ‘out there’ than others), a ‘helpful’ mother-in-law (she isn’t) and when Sarah goes to Paris with work, can Phil contain his jealousy? Listen and laugh as Phil and Sarah try to navigate their middle-class angst and new family dynamics with hilarious results. Just when Phil thinks he’s getting the hang of things, Sarah has big news… And events really end with a bang! Caroline Quentin rose to fame playing Dorothy in Men Behaving Badly, went to star in Jonathan Creek, Bridgerton and Midsomer Murders, and competed in Strictly Come Dancing. She is a keen gardener and was featured in the Chelsea Flower Show. Jim Sweeney is a comedian and member of the Comedy Store Players best known for his improvisation on TV and radio with fellow comedians Josie Lawrence and Paul Merton. A film, TV and stage actress, Sara Kestelman was recently in the BBC One seriesThis is Going to Hurt. Listen to both series of this comedy about family life in the nineties now, available as a download for the first time. Cast and credits Series 1 Written by Gary Brown Produced by Ann Jobson Sarah - Caroline Quentin Phil - Jim Sweeney Fay - Shirley Stelfox Liam - Steve Steen Gerald/Querol - Lloyd Peters Gavin - Paul Clarkson Sophie - Nadine Ballantyne Tai Ch'i Instructor/Tracey’s Dad - Jim Barclay Mrs Grainger - Jilly Meers Kath - Rachel Atkins Edna - Yvonne Edgell Brenda - Toni Palmer Carol - Melanie Hudson Stacey - Kim Barry Martha - Rebecca Front Sam - Ben Brown Ray - Gary Brown Carol - Melanie Hudson Doctor - Tony Hawks Lisa Forman - Geraldine Fitzgerald Other parts played by Jillie Meers and David Thorpe First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 6 October - 10 November 1993 Series 2 Written by Gary Brown Produced by Ann Jobson Sarah - Caroline Quentin Phil - Jim Sweeney Fay - Sara Kestelman Liam - Steve Steen Gerald - Lloyd Peters Sophie - Nadine Ballantyne Martha - Melanie Hudson Aleric - John Wheatley Henri - Philippe Smolikowski Francoise - Deborah Berlin Simone - Becky Hindley Sam - Ben Brown Midwife - Marie McAteer Harry - Harry Landis IzzyWizzy - Steve Dixon Rodney - Gary Brown Candida - Natasha Pyne Gavin - Paul Clarkson Mrs Lee - Becky Hindley Saskia - Jessica Brown Other parts played by Anna Van Heeswjk, Eva Stuart, Andrew Branch, Jilly Bond, John Bennett, Tessa Worsley and Joshua Towb. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 12 July - 16 August 1995 © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Gary Brown (Author), Caroline Quentin, Full Cast, Jim Sweeney, Sara Kestelman (Narrator)

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Jest a Minute: The Complete Series 1 and 2 Plus Specials: A BBC Radio Comedy Panel Game

Stand-up star Rhod Gilbert hosts the panel show about the serious business of comedy The hilarious comic lovechild of A Question of Sport and QI, Jest a Minute is a light-hearted, lively show that quizzes leading comedians on their knowledge of comedy. Host Rhod Gilbert accepts no backchat and gives short shrift to cheek as he recklessly awards points based on how quick, agile and witty he considers the panellists to be. In a series of fast-paced, chaotic rounds, they are tasked with answering quickfire questions on comedy history, sitcom titles, catchphrases and classic comedy films. There’s also a chance for some audience participation, as the teams pick a volunteer from the audience in a bid to find out who can tell the funniest joke, and a final buzzer round, in which Rhod reads out the start of a well-known gag (such as ‘What’s brown and sticky?’) and the contestants buzz in with their finest, funniest and most original punchlines. Among the A-list talent taking part in these two series are Justin Moorhouse, Chris Corcoran, Lloyd Langford, Jarred Christmas, Jeremy Hardy, Tom Allen, Alun Cochrane, Sarah Millican, Lucy Porter, Milton Jones and Jon Richardson. Also included are three special episodes, recorded at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival and Green Man Festival in 2015 and 2016, featuring Elis James, Cariad Lloyd, Ed Gamble, Greg Davies, Holly Walsh, Rob Deering, Chris Corcoran, Paul Foot and Kiri Pritchard-McLean. Production credits Presented by Rhod Gilbert Produced by Paul Forde and Gareth Gwynn Series 1 featuring: Justin Moorhouse, Chris Corcoran, Jarred Christmas, Jeremy Hardy, Rob Deering, Tom Allen, Roger Monkhouse, Kirsten O'Brien, Alun Cochrane, Tom Wrigglesworth, Sarah Millican, Jeff Green, Greg Davies, Lucy Porter Series 2 featuring: Chris Corcoran, Lloyd Langford, Rob Deering, Tom Craine. Markus Birdman, Steve Williams, Milton Jones, Lucy Porter, Elis James, Jon Richardson, Greg Davies, Eggsy, Paul Tonkinson, Tom Wrigglesworth Jest a Minute in Machynlleth 2015 featuring: Elis James, Cariad Lloyd and Ed Gamble Jest A Minute at Green Man Festival featuring: Greg Davies, Holly Walsh, Rob Deering and Chris Corcoran Jest A Minute in Machynlleth 2016 featuring: Paul Foot, Rob Deering, Ed Gamble and Kiri Pritchard-McLean First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 25 August-29 September 2006 (Series 1), 10 December 2006-13 January 2007 (Series 2), 2 May 2015 (Jest a Minute at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival 2015), 22 August 2015 (Jest A Minute at Green Man Festival), 30 April 2016 (Jest a Minute at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival 2016) © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Rhod Gilbert (Author), Alun Cochrane, Ed Gamble, Greg Davies, Jeremy Hardy, Jon Richardson, Lloyd Langford, Lucy Porter, Milton Jones, Rhod Gilbert, Sarah Millican, Tom Allen, Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

What This Comedian Said Will Shock You

The hilarious and controversial host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher has written his funniest, most opinionated, and most necessary book ever—a brilliantly astute and acerbically funny vivisection of American life, politics, and culture. Some of the smartest commentary about what's happening in America is coming from a comedian—this comedian being Bill Maher. If you want to understand what's wrong with this country, it turns out that one of the best informed and most thought-provoking analysts is this very funny pothead. The book was inspired by the "editorial" Bill delivers at the end of each episode of Real Time. These editorials are direct-to-camera sermons about culture, politics, and what's happening in the world. To put this book together, Maher reviewed more than a decade of his editorials, rewriting, reimagining, and updating them, and adding new material to speak exactly to the moment we're in. Free speech, cops, drugs, race, religion, the generations, cancel culture, the parties, the media, show biz, romance, health—Maher covers it all. The result is a hugely entertaining work of commentary about American culture in the tradition of Mark Twain, Will Rogers, and H. L. Mencken.

Bill Maher (Author), Bill Maher (Narrator)

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Bad Girls of Ancient Greece

THE guide to the baddies that started it all… Bad Girls of Ancient Greece contains profiles of wayward wives, mad mothers, scandalous sisters and damsels, that quite frankly, caused others A LOT of stress in the ancient world. With the ever-growing popularity of mythological retellings, Lauren McInnes has written THE guide to all of the baddies of ancient Greece. This book stands as a reminder that us women really have been badasses since the start. Written with humour and sass, Lauren profiles the women in Greek myth and legend covering: mortals, goddesses, titans, nymphs (you name it, she’s done it). Here you’ll find the weird and wonderful escapades of the women we’re often lead to believe were minor characters. Bad Girls of Ancient Greece is an accessible, intelligent, hilarious (sometimes spicy) guide to the women we love and know – Athena, Medusa, Aphrodite – and also those we may not, like Polyphonte, who was cursed with burning hot lust for a wild bear… imagine! So dive into the stories you thought you knew with Bad Girls of Ancient Greece as your illuminating guide…

Lizzy Tiffin (Author), Madeleine Leslay, TBD (Narrator)

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Steven Appleby's Normal Life: The Complete Series 1 and 2: A BBC Radio 4 Sitcom

All twelve episodes of the absurdist series based on Steven Appleby’s comic strip – plus a Christmas Special 'No one is more talented or original' Richard Ingrams, Spectator Cartoonist Steven Appleby asks where reality ends and fantasy begins, as he gives us his distinctly abnormal insights into everyday life. In these two series, he takes a look at a few of life’s fundamental topics, including Love, Death, Science, Truth and Oceanography. From seeking romance when his wife elopes with the electric kettle to searching for the hidden meaning of life, said to be written on a sausage, he takes us on a personal journey through his memories, experiences, dreams and fantasies to reveal his own idiosyncratic version of normality. Along the way, he discovers that his kids are actually alien tourists visiting Earth on a rowdy package holiday; signs a pact with the Devil to to reverse the ageing process (and look more like Richard Burton), undergoes surgery to explore his brain’s inner workings; and proves once and for all that dinosaurs could read, write and ride bicycles. But will his attempts to tell the absolute truth prove to be a less-than-wise career move? Also included is a festive special episode, Steven Appleby’s Normal Christmas, in which Steven meets Santa and learns that Christmas isn’t just about receiving... Paul McCrink and Mark Perry star as Steven, with Steven Appleby as himself and Rachel Atkins, Ewan Bailey, Nigel Betts and Rosalind Paul as the figments of his imagination. Credits Written by Steven Appleby Produced by Toby Swift Starring Paul McCrink and Mark Perry as Steven and featuring Rachel Atkins, Ewan Bailey, Nigel Betts, Rosalind Paul and Steven Appleby First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 8 August-12 September 2001 (Series 1), 19 February-26 March 2003 (Series 2), 23 December 2004 (Steven Appleby’s Normal Christmas) © 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Steven Appleby (Author), Ewan Bailey, Nigel Betts, Paul Mccrink, Rachel Atkins, Rosalind Paul, Steven Appleby (Narrator)

Audiobook

Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks, and Triumphs

From beloved CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Mo Rocca, author of New York Times bestseller Mobituaries, comes an inspiring collection of stories that celebrates the triumphs of people who made their biggest marks late in life. Eighty has been the new sixty for about twenty years now. In fact, there have always been late-in-life achievers, those who declined to go into decline just because they were eligible for social security. Journalist, humorist, and history buff Mo Rocca and coauthor Jonathan Greenberg introduce us to the people past and present who peaked when they could have been puttering—breaking out as writers, selling out concert halls, attempting to set land-speed records—and in the case of one ninety-year tortoise, becoming a first-time father. (Take that, Al Pacino!) In the vein of Mobituaries, Roctogenarians is a collection of entertaining and unexpected profiles of these unretired titans—some long gone (a cancer-stricken Henri Matisse, who began work on his celebrated cut-outs when he could no longer paint), some very much still living (Rita Moreno, the EGOT who's still got it). The amazing cast of characters also includes Mary Church Terrell, who at eighty-six helped lead sit-ins at segregated Washington, DC, lunch counters in the 1950s, and Carol Channing, who married the love of her life at eighty-two. Then there's Peter Mark Roget, who began working on his thesaurus in his twenties and completed it at seventy-three (because sometimes finding the right word takes time.) With passion and wonder Rocca and Greenberg recount the stories of yesterday's and today's strongest finishers. Because with all due respect to the Golden Girls, some people will never be content sitting out on the lanai. (PS Actress Estelle Getty was sixty-two when she got her big break. And yes, she's in the book.)

Jonathan Greenberg, Mo Rocca (Author), Mo Rocca, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook