5 Authors Finding Humor In Unlikely Places
There are some situations that make us so uncomfortable that we avoid talking about them, but rather than be silent, insightful writers have found that by breaking the tension with laughter, they can achieve a greater understanding. These authors all use humor to dig at the awkward, painful, and embarrassing parts of life. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
5 Authors Finding Truth Through Laughter
A Sketch from Lost Voice Guy
Facts About Disabilities in America
- 1 in 4 adults in the United States have some type of disability
- The total civilian non-institutionalized population with a disability in the United States is 40,678,654
- 2 in 5 adults age 65 years and older have a disability
- 1 in 3 adults with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 44 had a health care need that went unmet within the past year because of the cost
- 37% of U.S. civilians with disabilities aged 18 to 64 have a job, compared to 77.2% for people without disabilities
- The median earnings over a 12-month period for the civilian non-institutionalized population aged 16 and over with earnings and a disability is $23,006
- 15% of school-age children have some degree of hearing loss
- Roughly 8 million people in the US have an intellectual disability, including 425,000 children
- There are more than 4 million veterans living with a service-connected disability
- Workers with a disability are more concentrated in service occupations (19%) than those with no disability (17.2%)
Dan Zevin Reads Suburbed: How it Happened to Us
In Depth
As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. For many, books are the ideal medium for exploring the comedy of challenging or even mundane situations. Here, in no particular order, are authors penning stories that find hilarity in the most unexpected of circumstances.
At #1 is Lee Ridley, also known as Lost Voice Guy. He is the author of I'm Only In It For The Parking, which details his experiences as a disabled stand up comedian. He shares funny stories, pet peeves, and the questions he is asked most often. Writer Adam Kay hails it as a truly eye opening book, while actor Ross Noble praises the unique and brilliant comic voice.
Ridley won Britain's Got Talent in 2018 and the BBC New Comedy Award in 2014. He has also appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe, and on the radio sitcom Ability, which he co-wrote with actress Katherine Jakeways. Among the charities and organizations he has performed for are Sainsbury's, Barclays, and the Royal College of Nursing. He is also an ambassador for Scope and a patron of Find A Voice.
Ridley won Britain's Got Talent in 2018 and the BBC New Comedy Award in 2014.
Entering the list at #2 is Judith Henry, author of The Dutiful Daughter's Guide to Caregiving. The book shares her experiences caring for her mother and father when they became ill. She tells stories from her childhood along with practical suggestions and tips for children of aging parents. Amazon reader reviews call it helpful to the core and very funny.
Among the media Henry has appeared in include Homewatch CareGivers, Working Daughter, and Encore. In addition to her writing, she is also an artist, specializing in mixed media, stitchery, and floral paintings. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Saint Leo University, and a master's in education from Indiana University.
Coming in at #3 is crime writer Scott Phillips. His hometown of Wichita, Kansas inspired the comedic elements of his debut book, The Ice Harvest, which author Richard Russo calls a funny, tough first novel. The story follows a mob lawyer attempting to leave town on Christmas Eve with stolen cash.
His hometown of Wichita, Kansas inspired the comedic elements of his debut book, The Ice Harvest, which author Richard Russo calls a funny, tough first novel.
Among the accolades Phillips has garnered for his writing include the Hammett Prize, the Anthony Award, and finalist honors for the Edgar. He settled in Paris for many years before moving to Southern California, where he worked on screenplays, including the 1996 film Crosscut. He makes his home in St. Louis with his wife and daughter.
In the #4 spot is Dan Zevin. He is the recipient of the Thurber Prize for American Humor for the book Dan Gets a Minivan: Life at the Intersection of Dude and Dad. It chronicles his wedding, the birth of his children, and life with an obese Labrador mutt. Booklist calls it laugh out loud hilarious, while People Magazine compares the author's stories to the television show Seinfeld.
Zevin's work includes a humor column for the New York Times, commentating for NPR, and contributing to the print and digital editions of Rolling Stone and The Wall Street Journal. He teaches comic writing at Sarah Lawrence College, and resides in Westchester County, New York with his family.
He teaches comic writing at Sarah Lawrence College, and resides in Westchester County, New York with his family.
Wrapping up the list at #5 is Kwana Jackson, a USA Today bestselling author. Her novella, Romancing The Fashionista, tells the humorous love story between a magazine editor and a doctor who was once her secret high school crush. Readers praise it as funny and a light, entertaining read.
Before turning to writing, the author spent more than ten years designing women's sportswear for various fashion houses. Under the name K.M. Jackson, she pens The Creative Hearts and Unconventional Brides romance series. She is the mother of twins and resides in a suburb of New York City with her husband.
