Joyful Recollections of Trauma

Paul Scheer is a Screen Actors Guild Award–winning comedian, actor, filmmaker, and podcaster known for his roles in The League, Black Monday, Fresh Off the Boat, 30 Rock, and Veep. He also co-created and starred in Human Giant and NTSF:SD:SUV::. He writes comics for Marvel and DC, and can be heard on Big City Greens and Star Trek: Lower Decks. He cohosts the popular podcasts How Did This Get Made? and Unspooled. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two sons.

"It's a hilarious essay collection about trauma. Yes, really." — People"Blends the horrifying and the self-deprecatingly funny, often within the same chapter, sometimes within the same sentence." — Los Angeles Times"His ability to juxtapose his darkest moments with humor results in a memoir that is as emotionally jarring as it is entertaining." — Paste Magazine"An endearing underdog story that will have readers cheering for the author from a troubled beginning to a sweet, happy end." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"Scheer is able to pack in the laughs that fans of his irreverent comedy will expect as well as showcase a uniquely intimate writing voice that successfully tackles topics as wide ranging as an adult ADHD diagnosis and his own love story with fellow comedian June Diane Raphael. Scheer’s recollections add up to something entirely substantial that fans of comedy and confessional memoir writing will appreciate." — Booklist (starred review)"Charming, disarming, candid, and warm . . . Readers will find the sincerest form of self-acceptance through hard lessons learned. . . . Scheer’s memoir addresses somber truths of adolescence and abuse while never losing a sense of hope and humor along the way." — Library Journal (starred review)"Refreshing and resonant." — Salon"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"I loved this deeply vulnerable book with its original style, revealing stories, and profound lessons. It made me cry with compassion but I also cried from laughter, because—true to its title—this is also a laugh-out-loud read. Don’t miss it." — Jane Fonda"Paul’s book is full of heart, humor and heartache. So proud to call him a friend and fellow author." — Phoebe Robinson"This book is a SCHEER delight!! (Note: Patton Oswalt was committed to a low-security mental help facility after writing this blurb.)” — Patton Oswalt"At once wildly entertaining and achingly poignant. Paul Scheer takes you on a courageous dive through the darker waters of his past, and his irrepressible spirit shines through and beckons us to join him in the light." — Casey Wilson"Read Paul Scheer’s Joyful Recollections of Trauma for an unexpected journey where humor and heartache collide. Scheer masterfully navigates the tightrope of life's absurdities, delivering a poignant, yet uproariously funny, exploration of personal tales that resonate deeply and delight endlessly." — Jessi Klein"Paul Scheer is good at everything. A writer, performer, and director who’s entertained millions onscreen and in podcasts over the years, it’s almost unfair he’s also a fucking amazing memoirist, too. The stories in this book are funny and dark at the same time. Honest and true. The kind of writing that sticks with you." — Ed Brubaker