The best humor audiobooks for beginners: where to start
If you've never finished a humor audiobook, start with one that already won. Every title below took the Audie Award in the humor category — broadly loved, superbly narrated, the audiobook industry's own pick for the best humor production of its year. They are the safest first credits: hard to switch off, and hard to regret. The most recent winner is The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon (2025).
Still Foolin' 'Em| Audiobook | Author | Narrator(s) | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science | Kate McKinnon | Kate McKinnon, Emily Lynne | Audie Humor (2025) |
| Leslie F*cking Jones | Leslie Jones | Leslie Jones | Audie Humor (2024) |
| Happy-Go-Lucky | David Sedaris | David Sedaris | Audie Humor (2023) |
| How Y'all Doing? | Leslie Jordan | Leslie Jordan | Audie Humor (2022) |
| A Very Punchable Face | Colin Jost | Colin Jost | Audie Humor (2021) |
| More Bedtime Stories from Cynics | Kirsten Kearse; Gretchen Enders; Aparna Nancherla; Cirocco Dunlap; Dave Hill | Nick Offerman, Patrick Stewart, Alia Shawkat, Elliot Page, Jane Lynch, John Waters, Anjelica Huston, Wendell Pierce, Mike Birbiglia, Rachel Dratch, Matt Walsh, Nicole Byer, Harry Goaz, Aisling Bea, Gary Anthony Williams | Audie Humor (2020) |
| The Greatest Love Story Ever Told | Nick Offerman; Megan Mullally | Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally | Audie Humor (2019) |
| Carpet Diem; or ...How to Save the World by Accident | Justin Lee Anderson | Matthew Lloyd Davies | Audie Humor (2018) |
| I'm Judging You | Luvvie Ajayi | Luvvie Ajayi | Audie Humor (2017) |
| Furiously Happy | Jenny Lawson | Jenny Lawson | Audie Humor (2016) |
| Yes Please | Amy Poehler | Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, Seth Meyers, Mike Schur, Eileen Poehler, William Poehler, Patrick Stewart, Kathleen Turner | Audie Humor (2015) |
| Still Foolin' 'Em | Billy Crystal | Billy Crystal | Audie Humor (2014) |
| I Suck at Girls | Justin Halpern | Sean Schemmel | Audie Humor (2013) |
| Shatner Rules | William Shatner; Chris Regan | William Shatner | Audie Humor (2012) |
| Old Jews Telling Jokes | Sam Hoffman | Sam Hoffman, Eric Spiegelman | Audie Humor (2011) |
| Church People: The Lutherans of Lake Wobegon | Garrison Keillor | Garrison Keillor | Audie Humor (2010) |
| The Learners | Chip Kidd | Bronson Pinchot | Audie Humor (2009) |
| I Am America (And So Can You!) | Stephen Colbert | Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello, Kevin Dorff, Greg Hollimon, Evie McGee, David Pasquesi, Amy Sedaris, Allison Silverman, Brian Stack, Jon Stewart | Audie Humor (2008) |
| Spoiled Rotten America | Larry Miller | Larry Miller | Audie Humor (2007) |
| The Truth (With Jokes) | Al Franken | Al Franken | Audie Humor (2006) |
| Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim | David Sedaris | David Sedaris | Audie Humor (2005) |
| Live at Carnegie Hall | David Sedaris | David Sedaris | Audie Humor (2004) |
| Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight | Peter Ackerman | Jeffrey Donovan, Richard Kind, Clea Lewis, Alan Mandell, Mandy Siegfried, Joey Slotnick | Audie Humor (2003) |
| Napalm and Silly Putty | George Carlin | George Carlin | Audie Humor (2002) |
| Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason | Helen Fielding | Tracie Bennett | Audie Humor (2001) |
| How Paul Robeson Saved My Life, and Other Mostly Happy Stories | Carl Reiner | Carl Reiner | Audie Humor (2000) |
| Ranting Again | Dennis Miller | Dennis Miller | Audie Humor (1999) |
| Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency | Douglas Adams | Douglas Adams | Audie Humor (1998) |
| Calvin Trillin, Piece by Piece | Calvin Trillin | Calvin Trillin | Audie Humor (1997) |
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Frequently asked questions
Which humor audiobook should I start with?
Start with a recent Audie Humor winner such as "The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science" by Kate McKinnon (2025). Award winners are the safest first listens because they are judged on narration as much as story, so the performance carries you through.
Are these good for someone new to audiobooks?
Yes. Every audiobook here won the Audie Award, the audiobook industry's own award — they are broadly loved and exceptionally well narrated, which is exactly what makes a first audiobook easy to finish.
How do I listen for free?
A free 30-day Audible Premium Plus trial includes one credit. You can use it on any humor audiobook on this page and keep it permanently, even if you cancel before the trial ends.
More humor guides: every Audie-winning humor audiobook · all listening guides · best audiobooks by award.