Mainstream comedy is frankly in a bit of a lull right now. Sitcoms and theatrical comedy movie are disappearing, few comic novels are getting published, and comedy podcasts are just comedians interviewing other comedians. It’s perhaps of little surprise, then, that the best nonfiction comedy books released in 2025 were focused on the past — comedy’s history, themes, and steadfast examples of greatness and insight.

Such books were all about asserting judgment. A little bit of nostalgia plays in too. How could it not? Comedy shapes us in our youth, and our youth shapes our comedic taste. But the goal of these books was mostly to assess or reassess largely overlooked cultural artifacts that acquired their legendary status over time. There are a few personal stories sprinkled in, but what tie

See Full Page