This book was a DOOZY. Some of the funniest people have lived through the worst things, and Scheer is no different. My heart hurt for him when he was recounting his upbringing, but that hardship makes you all the more proud when you hear it’s made him the man, father, husband and comedian (last for a reason) he is today. I’ve always been a fan, but this book and his honesty made me an even bigger one. Kudos to him.

As a massive fan of The League, this one really kind of caught me off guard. Not that it was funny. I’ve watched and rewatched The League so many times, not to mention all the other random shows or movies I’ve seen him in, and the random scattered episodes of How Did This Get Made enough to know that Paul Scheer is hilarious.

No, what caught me off guard with this one was the amount of pain, but also empathy and warmth he manages to convey. A lot of times this didn’t feel like reading so much as sitting down with coffee or a drink with a friend to just vent.

His life hasn’t been easy (okay, sure, who’s has?) but the way he tells these stories is never self-pitying. It’s more about coming through the other side with humor and compassion.

I’ve loved Paul Scheer for a long time and this book was hilarious and heartbreaking and resilient and lovely all at the same time.

I was so excited to receive Paul’s ARC as a long time fan, and it did not disappoint at all! Paul effortlessly weaves together his ability to make you laugh with some of the darkest moments of his past, as well as some of the most happy. as someone who always plays a comedic character I loved hearing more about where he came from and what he has lived through that contributes to him being such a good great comedian. I would have loved to listen to this on audio as well and may in the future. I have already been recommending this to a lot of friends!

Absolutely loved this. I've been a fan of Paul Sheer as far back as Human Giant. I read the galley (thank you!) and also listened to the audiobook. I definitely recommend the audiobook for this as it is interspersed with bits from "How Did This Get Made?" which adds another level of storytelling.

Thank you for the ARC of this wonderful and insightful book. I really enjoyed reading (and listening!) to it.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I never expected to laugh so much while reading about the difficult things that have happened in a person's life.

I first saw Paul Scheer years ago in VH1's "Best Week Ever" and various other tv shows, so I was interested in his book. Raised in Long Island, Scheer talked about his childhood growing up living with his mother and abusive stepfather. It was very personal, and I appauld him for sharing that with the world.

He also talked about how he met several celebrities growing up in New York and I found several of these hilarious, my favorite being the Samuel L. Jackson one.

He also talked about his being a husband and father.

I'm not sure if it was my copy, but I did have a few sentences that repeated. I did not know he had a podcast with his wife, I definitely will be checking it out!

Thanks to NetGalley, Paul Scheer, and HarperOne for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Joyful Recollections of Trauma. I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Paul Scheer is a great actor. Anytime I notice him in something that I am watching, I always think "hey, it's Paul Scheer!" He always steals the scenes for me. My heart broke reading about every traumatic event he had to endure throughout his childhood. Somehow, he was able recall such experiences and retold them in a humorous way. Comedy is a very strong talent for him. I will be purchasing a copy to reread it again and again. Thankful that he decided to use his gift of storytelling and shared his life with the world.

I don't think I'll ever be able to see Paul Scheer the same way again. His energy and enthusiasm and how much he gives of himself in performance are even more impressive when you learn about his childhood, and the way he was constantly backed into corners where he had to push down and ignore his emotions. Where he was unsafe in so many ways, and yet still found his own versions of happiness even in the darkness. That he recognized the dark in himself and did something about it because he wanted to be a better version of himself.

This is funny, horrible, relatable, bizarre, and hopeful. I hope Paul Scheer never runs into another celebrity ever again because every one of those stories recounted here made me curl up with secondhand embarrassment. What a worthwhile, energetic read.

I’ve always loved hearing Paul’s stories on his podcasts so when it was announced he had a book coming I knew I had to check it out. Well, this book was exactly what i was expecting, while at the same time much darker. Paul is a great storyteller & finds the humor in even his darkest stories.

This book is a collection of stories throughout the author's life. Some stories are funny, some are sad, and all of them are very honest. Reading these stories gives you an understanding of the author and gave me the feeling I wasn't alone.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very entertaining read that also had heartbreaking elements. I laughed out loud many times while also hurting for the author who went through a lot-especially as a child. Definitely worth reading.

I'm a big fan of Paul Scheer's work on The League, and I've been listening to his podcast, How Did This Get Made, since it began. I was so excited to read his book because I have heard bits and pieces about his traumatic childhood on HDTGM. Paul is a natural storyteller, and this came through in the book. The topics are heavy, but they are told in a way that feels so honest and raw. Everything is handled with care, and I appreciated the way that the book was divided into chapters and sections. The stories flowed well together, and the book is like a collection of stories about his life that leads from his childhood to the present.

Thanks to the publisher, HarperOne, for an ARC of this book.

A very accurate title! It's part memoir, but mostly an example of how we can acknowledge the humor AND process the trauma. The essays in the first half will give you a better understanding of why we younger Gen X (born in the 70s, raised in the 80s) are the way we are.

Anyone who listens to HDTGM knows Paul Scheer should have written this a long time ago. Scheer is a great storyteller, so I knew this book was going to be great, but I was truly blown away by how great the book is.
Even those who aren't acquainted with Scheer will enjoy this memoir, though the last half may only be for the die-hard fans.

4.5 stars, rounded up

I was hyped for this book since Paul announced it on the How Did This Get Made? podcast. As one of the many listeners that has always enjoyed hearing stories of Paul’s childhood, it was great to read them in long form. I appreciated the vulnerability in the storytelling, and there really is a lot of joy that comes through despite the trauma he’s experienced. Reading the book felt like having a great conversation with a friend.

Comedian Scheer’s life story, from troubled childhood, including abuse, to the joy of working at Blockbuster. Then memories of the Upright Citizens’ Brigade, his audition for SNL and his awkward run-ins with celebrities (and they are horribly bad) and more.

Generally enjoyable.