7 Fascinating and Funny Female Entertainers

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, by Amy Schumer
The inimitable Amy Schumer, known for her brash and unabashed standup comedy (as well as her Emmy-winning show Inside Amy Schumer and Hollywood blockbuster Trainwreck), has published a memoir, and it’s not what you’d expect. Yes, it’s full of humor and, yes, Schumer has plenty to say about sex, but The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo surprises readers by introducing them to an Amy fans and critics have never met. Schumer’s autobiography reveals a woman both more complex and more ordinary than the persona seen on stage and screen.

Diary of a Mad Diva, by Joan Rivers
Speaking of which, Amy Schumer LOVES her some Joan. But then, who doesn’t? Diary of a Mad Diva is exactly that: a journal (given to Joan by daughter Melissa) loaded with hysterical, no-holds-barred rants and acid-tongued tirades. Rivers spares no one in its pages: celebrities, political figures, family, even Joan herself are all victims of her unique comedic criticism and searing wit. Outrageously politically incorrect, Rivers’ diary touches on everything from slavery and Miley Cyrus to the Holocaust and anorexia. If you’re in the mood for impolite and unapologetic, look no further than Rivers’ personal chronicle.

Yes, Please, by Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler has delighted fans on the small screen (SNL, Upright Citizens Brigade, Parks and Recreation), the silver screen (Baby Mama, Blades of Glory, They Came Together), and onstage, alongside best pal Tina Fey at the Golden Globes. But Poehler is also on top of her game as a writer. Yes, Please is an equal parts delightful and devious autobiography that slays readers with both its excellent writing and top-notch hilarity. Presented in a mashup format of essays, poetry, lists, photography, and unsolicited advice, Yes, Please will—yes—please.

How to be a Woman, by Caitlin Moran
Caitlin Moran—British journalist, columnist, and world-renowned funny feminist—kills in this compendium of spot-on observations of the modern woman and honest insights into her own life as a writer, wife, woman, and mother. Though women have seemingly come a long way (“witches haven’t been burned since 1727, right?”), in How to be a Woman Moran admits there’s still much ground to cover, and shows where and how through witty insights on everything from cellulite and celebrities to strip clubs. This is a read that’s both insightful and insanely funny, perfect for the modern feminist.

Bossypants, by Tina Fey
No list of funny female authors is complete without the inimitable Tina Fey. Yes, Bossypants makes it onto lots of must-read lists, but there’s a reason why. This self-deprecating memoir produces uproarious laughter, which is something to keep in mind if you’re on a crowded train or in a quiet waiting room. In Bossypants, Fey details her lukewarm college love life, her early years of improv and working at the Y, her admission into the SNL ranks, and her disastrous honeymoon. She also dishes plenty on the battle of the sexes, her unorthodox style of parenting, and best friends (see: Amy Poehler). An absolute must-have for your shelf of comedy she-roes.

Not That Kind of Girl, by Lena Dunham
Lena Dunham, creator of HBO’s Girls, tells it like it is in Not That Kind of Girl. A collection of precocious essays about the tribulations of growing up girl, Dunham gifts readers with the nitty-gritty on her awkward sex life, the discriminating patriarchy of Hollywood, and her obsession with death. At times poignant, at others grim, but always, somehow, very, very funny, Not That Kind of Girl is a comedic coming-of-age exposé.

Why Not Me?, by Mindy Kaling
Known best for TV’s The Mindy Project, her role on The Office, and debut memoir Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), Mindy Kaling is back and better than ever with Why Not Me? An assemblage of witty writings that cover (among other things) her “weird” relationship with BJ Novak, Hollywood sex scenes, hair extensions, and meeting Bradley Cooper and Obama, Why Not Me? is perhaps most notable for its comedic yet incredibly sage advice regarding being young, having confidence, and what women deserve.