Joyful Recollections of Trauma

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

NAMED A 2024 BOOK OF THE YEAR BY VULTURE AND BOOKLIST

AN AUDIE AWARD FINALIST

“Paul Scheer delivers a deeply funny, personal and moving account of how joy and pain are the perfect ingredients for a happy and funny life.”—Amy Poehler

"It's a hilarious essay collection about trauma. Yes, really."—People Magazine

From award-winning actor and comedian Paul Scheer, a candid and hilarious celebrity memoir-in-essays on coming to terms with childhood trauma and finding the joy in embracing your authentic self.

Paul Scheer has entertained countless fans and podcast listeners with stories about the odd, wild, and absurd details of his life. Yet these behind the scenes tales have pointed to deeper, more difficult truths that the actor and comedian has kept to himself. Now, he is finally ready to share those truths for the first time—but, of course, with a healthy dose of humor.

Blending the confident, affable voice that has won him a dedicated following with a refreshing level of candor, this humorous memoir chronicles Paul’s often shocking, admittedly tumultuous childhood and how the experiences of his youth have reverberated throughout his life. In his comedy, Paul has always been unafraid to “go there,” to play naïve, cringeworthy characters, imbuing them with disarming charm and humanity. That daring openness is on display in the pages of this memoir, but in true Paul fashion, it is also surprising, eye-opening, and side-splitting.

In this madcap journey through the inner working of his mind and creative process, infused with plenty of pop culture, Paul Scheer demonstrates once again that the truth is often stranger—and funnier—than fiction. Joyful Recollections of Trauma offers a unique perspective on universal themes: growing up, working through a challenging childhood, staying true to yourself, and finding success, fulfillment, and happiness in often strange and difficult circumstances. Throughout, Paul shares both the hard-fought lessons on finding humor in pain and the laughter that can be found in the darkest parts of life, and reminds us that what matters is not what you’ve been through but who you are becoming. If you loved recent memoirs by Molly Shannon, Maria Bamford, RuPaul, and Jennette McCurdy—or any book that moves you to both laughter and tears—Joyful Recollections of Trauma is the perfect read for you.

What do you do when your most traumatic memories are also your funniest stories?

• Abusive Stepfather: From dodging a pitchfork to fighting off a home invader with a wooden ninja sword, Scheer’s stories of life with his stepfather, Hunter, are as harrowing as they are absurd.
• Hollywood Stories: Awkward, hilarious, and completely true encounters with celebrities like Christopher Walken, Lou Reed, and Alan Alda that could only happen to Paul Scheer.
• Comedy Career: The behind-the-scenes journey from working at Blockbuster Video to the stages of the UCB Theatre and a surreal, solitary audition for Saturday Night Live.
• Dark Humor: A masterclass in turning personal tragedy—from accidentally setting a resort on fire to navigating a family that pretended a divorce wasn't happening—into laugh-out-loud comedy.
• Becoming a Father: Breaking the cycle of his own chaotic upbringing to find love, marriage, and the surprising joy (and terror) of becoming a dad.