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A Very Punchable Face: A Memoir Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Colin Jost (Author, Narrator), Random House Audio (Publisher)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 6,543 ratings
#1 Best Seller in Celebrity & Popular Culture Humor
See all formats and editions

New York Times Best Seller

In these hilarious essays, the Saturday Night Live head writer and Weekend Update co-anchor learns how to take a beating.

“I always wanted to punch his face before I read this book. Now I just want to kick him in the balls.” (Larry David)

Named One of the Best Books of the Year by Cosmopolitan, Vulture, and Parade

If there’s one trait that makes someone well suited to comedy, it’s being able to take a punch - metaphorically and, occasionally, physically.

From growing up in a family of firefighters on Staten Island to commuting three hours a day to high school and “seeing the sights” (like watching a Russian woman throw a stroller off the back of a ferry), to attending Harvard while Facebook was created, Jost shares how he has navigated the world like a slightly smarter Forrest Gump.

You’ll also discover things about Jost that will surprise and confuse you, like how Jimmy Buffett saved his life, how Czech teenagers attacked him with potato salad, how an insect laid eggs inside his legs, and how he competed in a 25-man match at WrestleMania (and almost won). You"ll go behind the scenes at SNL and Weekend Update (where he"s written some of the most memorable sketches and jokes of the past 15 years). And you’ll experience the life of a touring stand-up comedian - from performing in rural college cafeterias at noon to opening for Dave Chappelle at Radio City Music Hall.

For every accomplishment (hosting the Emmys), there is a setback (hosting the Emmys). And for every absurd moment (watching paramedics give CPR to a raccoon), there is an honest, emotional one (recounting his mother’s experience on the scene of the Twin Towers’ collapse on 9/11). Told with a healthy dose of self-deprecation, A Very Punchable Face reveals the brilliant mind behind some of the dumbest sketches on television and lays bare the heart and humor of a hardworking guy - with a face you can’t help but want to punch.

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  1. Listening Length
    7 hours and 41 minutes
  2. Author
    Colin Jost
  3. Narrator
    Colin Jost
  4. Audible release date
    July 14, 2020
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  7. ASIN
    B081KBHPJ6
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 7 hours and 41 minutes
Author Colin Jost
Narrator Colin Jost
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date July 14, 2020
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B081KBHPJ6
Best Sellers Rank #341 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#2 in Celebrity & Popular Culture Humor (Books)
#2 in Humor Essays (Books)
#6 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
6,543 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book humorous and lighthearted. They appreciate the relatable stories and interesting insights into Colin Jost's life. The writing style is described as well-written and genuine. Readers find the author relatable and brave for sharing his stories. Overall, they describe the book as a quick, easy read that provides insight into an intriguing life.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
HumorStory qualityInsightWriting styleRelatabilityReadabilityTalentHonesty
264 customers mention "Humor"256 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find it lighthearted with amusing anecdotes and interesting insights. The writing is clever and witty, making it a fun and enjoyable read.

"...Jost also included a very sweet and harrowing chapter about his mother and her experiences from 9/11 when, as chief medical examiner for the NYC..." Read more

"I was happy to end 2020 with "A Very Punchable Face," the funniest book I can remember reading in quite a while. Lots of laughing out-loud...." Read more

"...The fact is, I love clever, comedic writing. It is medicinal, but it ain’t astrophysics, so don’t get a big head, oh wait, you already have one...." Read more

"I love his sense of humor. His first person narration is endearing and his style sometimes quite amusingly self deprecating...." Read more

76 customers mention "Story quality"71 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the entertaining and relatable stories in the book. They find the anecdotes funny and self-deprecating, with a nice blend of humor and insight into Colin's interesting life. The memoir is described as a fun read that offers a glimpse into his journey and motivations.

"...Told with a healthy dose of self-deprecation, A Very Punchable Face reveals the brilliant mind behind some of the dumbest sketches on television,..." Read more

"...As I said, a number of the anecdotes are fairly tame. White, hardworking guy grows up, goes to good schools, studies a lot, and succeeds...." Read more

"...Weekend News and most of the cold opens are the best parts of the show...." Read more

"...but it's more than just a series of funny anecdotes...." Read more

68 customers mention "Insight"68 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and fascinating. They appreciate learning about Colin's family and experiences growing up on Staten Island. The insider information about SNL and Colin's life is interesting. Readers mention the chapter about 9/11 and his mom is moving.

"...Your writing is self-deprecating humor at its finest; so many tidbits about SNL and its talented (and very frenzied staff); so many personal..." Read more

"...often self-deprecating humor and amusing anecdotes, peppered with real insights here and there.. a lot of it based on his work at SNL, unsurprisingly..." Read more

"...On a plane! Very well written, interesting and did I mention funny? If you liked Tina Fey’s and Amy Pohler’s books check this one out." Read more

"...humor, then this is a fun, mostly lighthearted read with some interesting insights into his Mom's efforts for 9/11...." Read more

49 customers mention "Writing style"49 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They appreciate the author's honesty and genuine writing style.

"...journalist and a writer for SNL for many years, so the writing here is uniformly solid...." Read more

"...It is well written, easy to read and there is Good Humor throughout, but what keeps it interesting is the celebrity references and connection to snl...." Read more

"...What Ames this book so readable is the confessional honesty of each anecdote, every memory, and all incidents...." Read more

"...little, there is some scary personal stuff in there, and he writes about it beautifully. Keep up the good work Colin Jost." Read more

27 customers mention "Relatability"27 positive0 negative

Customers find the book relatable and heartfelt. They appreciate the candid look into Colin Jost's life and insight into SNL. The first-person narration is endearing, with sweet moments of sincerity. Readers describe the author as interesting, talented, and brave for sharing some stories.

"I love his sense of humor. His first person narration is endearing and his style sometimes quite amusingly self deprecating...." Read more

"...I appreciate the author’s openness, hard work, and relatability. I would definitely buy his next book should he write one. 👍👍..." Read more

"...is Good Humor throughout, but what keeps it interesting is the celebrity references and connection to snl...." Read more

"...It was a book truly reflective of the actor/comedian Colin Jost. In that it wasn’t an empty biography and I learned a lot from him...." Read more

23 customers mention "Readability"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and easy to read. They describe it as a lighthearted, quick read that offers a nice change of pace during challenging times. The self-effacing tone is appreciated by readers.

"...he talks about his mom- a hero first responder at 9/11, it's super light in tone and definitely a good book to escape into full of funny..." Read more

"...I laughed out loud several times and it was a pretty quick read so i consider it time well spent...." Read more

"...Other than that, this is a light read. Some of it was TMI. He doesn’t mention Scarlet much...." Read more

"...A very fun, quick, and light read." Read more

14 customers mention "Talent"14 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's talent. They find him intelligent, funny, and genuine. The author seems like a cool guy and is described as talented.

"...He is a really talented comdic writer and so A Very Punchable Face has been one of my favorite books from this genre that I have read, he has the..." Read more

"...He’s obviously a very intelligent and talented man and I also love the way he pokes fun at himself. I had trouble putting it down...." Read more

"...some surprise insights about himself, humor, and the amazing number of talented people he has worked with over the years...." Read more

"Colin Jost is so smart, funny and humble...." Read more

11 customers mention "Honesty"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's honesty. They find the book candid, humorous, and self-deprecating.

"...What Ames this book so readable is the confessional honesty of each anecdote, every memory, and all incidents...." Read more

"Colin Jost is so smart, funny and humble...." Read more

"...A big THANK YOU to Jost for making me smile. I appreciated the honesty, life lessons, and an insider look at SNL." Read more

"...I hope he speaks out on it more. I appreciated his vulnerability and honesty while weaving in humor to make this book inspiring and entertaining!..." Read more

He just might help me laugh until I'm 100
5 out of 5 stars
He just might help me laugh until I'm 100
Genius, authentic, no cheap shots at people that are hurtful, sensitive, loving ( I cried), you would want him as your safest best friend. I'm 73. Please keep writing Colin!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Sarah M
    5.0 out of 5 stars An adorable and funny, yet punchable face. 4.5 stars
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    'If there’s one trait that makes someone well suited to comedy, it’s being able to take a punch—metaphorically and, occasionally, physically.

    From growing up in a family of firefighters on Staten Island to commuting three hours a day to high school and “seeing the sights” (like watching a Russian woman throw a stroller off the back of a ferry), to attending Harvard while Facebook was created, Jost shares how he has navigated the world like a slightly smarter Forrest Gump.

    You’ll also discover things about Jost that will surprise and confuse you, like how Jimmy Buffett saved his life, how Czech teenagers attacked him with potato salad, how an insect laid eggs inside his legs, and how he competed in a twenty-five-man match at WrestleMania (and almost won). You’ll go behind the scenes at SNL and Weekend Update (where he’s written some of the most memorable sketches and jokes of the past fifteen years). And you’ll experience the life of a touring stand-up comedian—from performing in rural college cafeterias at noon to opening for Dave Chappelle at Radio City Music Hall.

    For every accomplishment (hosting the Emmys), there is a setback (hosting the Emmys). And for every absurd moment (watching paramedics give CPR to a raccoon), there is an honest, emotional one (recounting his mother’s experience on the scene of the Twin Towers’ collapse on 9/11). Told with a healthy dose of self-deprecation, A Very Punchable Face reveals the brilliant mind behind some of the dumbest sketches on television, and lays bare the heart and humor of a hardworking guy—with a face you can’t help but want to punch.'
    ______________________________

    4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.

    A Very Punchable Face is comedian and actor, Colin Jost's debut book and is a comedic autobiography.

    The only type of memiors/autobiographies I read are by comedians or comedic actors because (for the most part) I know that an entire book dedicated to the life and ponderings of just one individual will not be interesting enough to me to stick with unless it's funny.

    I really enjoy Colin and Michael Che on Weekend Update on SNL, I think they're so funny together and play off of each other very well. So when I saw that Colin had written his own book, I made sure to order a copy when it first came out...but then it took me several months before it climbed to the top of my TBR list. But I have finally read it!

    I wasn't sure about the book going into it because not everyone can pull off being funny in print without falling flat. But he IS a comedy writer professionally, so looking back my worry was quite unnecessary. He is a really talented comdic writer and so A Very Punchable Face has been one of my favorite books from this genre that I have read, he has the perfect blend of confinence and self-deprication that I love and that I find really amusing.

    He shares some fairly embarassing stories with us, which I adored. I don't need to read a bunch of punched up stories to make them sound perfect and unrelatable. But with a title like A Very Punchable Face it was guaranteed that he wouldn't be afraid to take some shots at himself. Jost also included a very sweet and harrowing chapter about his mother and her experiences from 9/11 when, as chief medical examiner for the NYC Fire Department, she responded to the call to action when the first plane struck. And you guys, he majored in Russian Lit! As someone who majored in Classical Languages, I have a serious soft spot for dummies like me that made such a nerdy and reckless choice for their future.

    I didn't really know anything about him to start, except for what I have seen on SNL. But I now know that he is just such a nerd with a tendency toward social awkwardness and the heart, it flutters. I don't know if he is planning to write any further books, but if he does, I'll be reading them.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Duane Schneider
    5.0 out of 5 stars Often Laugh Out Loud Funny
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I was happy to end 2020 with "A Very Punchable Face," the funniest book I can remember reading in quite a while. Lots of laughing out-loud. Sometimes I think legitimate substantive content was replaced with bits for jokes, but that's okay. I honestly wasn't expecting Tolstoy. (Which, mentioning Tolstoy, Jost was a Russian and British literature major at Harvard, and one funny anecdote involves a stay in Russia.) I would divide the book into three sections: Jost's childhood, which is the funniest part of "A Very Punchable Face." Then there is a very serious, and well-written, section about Jost's mother's experiences at Ground Zero on 9/11 as the head doctor for the NY firefighters. The final section seems like a mixture of Saturday Night Live anecdotes and brushes with celebrity. Jost is obviously very smart (Harvard!) and has been both a legit journalist and a writer for SNL for many years, so the writing here is uniformly solid. If you're looking for a wild memoir full of drug-addled tales of SNL debauchery, this isn't it. Jost is more like the nerdy overachieving valedictorian of your high school, and many of his stories are tame. In fact, he dedicates more space to talking about his concerns and bad experiences with drugs and alcohol. While he's not a teetotaler, he does describe the SNL culture of alcohol, drug use, and weekly parties, and how that has led to some major burnout among former cast members. Jost is discreet about SNL gossip. He won't say who the heaviest partiers are, and he won't namedrop the worst hosts (except for Russell Crowe, who was the absolute worst; Trump, he claims, wasn't so bad). He won't reveal how much SNL writers and cast members make, nor does he go into great detail about the skits he has written. Despite his obvious drive to succeed, Jost is charmingly self-deprecating, and also complimentary of pretty much everyone he's ever met. As I said, a number of the anecdotes are fairly tame. White, hardworking guy grows up, goes to good schools, studies a lot, and succeeds. When the stories in the final section turn more random (appearing in a WWE wrestling match, surfing with Jimmy Buffet, insects laying eggs in his leg, Hungarian kids throwing potato salad at him), the book loses some of its direction, and when the jokes seem more strained, this section becomes less funny. But overall I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys comedy, SNL, etc.
    11 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Victória Garcia
    5.0 out of 5 stars i loved
    Reviewed in Brazil on December 7, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    thank you Colin for writing this book, i cried so hard in the final lines.
    Customer image
    Victória Garcia
    5.0 out of 5 stars i loved
    Reviewed in Brazil on December 7, 2022
    thank you Colin for writing this book, i cried so hard in the final lines.
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  • K
    1.0 out of 5 stars Kaputt und definitiv nicht neu
    Reviewed in Germany on September 29, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Das Buch kam mit eingeschlagenen Ecken und zerdrücktem Umschlag an. Es wurde als neu verkauft, sah aber aus als wäre es ewig falsch gelagert worden!
    Report
  • Rebeca Ochoa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Realmente divertido e ingenioso
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 16, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Lo compré como regalo por las reseñas y porque el extracto me pareció divertido e ingenioso. A la persona le gustó mucho, realmente es un buen escritor de comedia. Muy recomendable el libro.
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  • Olivia RM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it, it’s amazing!
    Reviewed in Canada on January 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Absolutely amazing book, well written and I laughed a lot reading this book. I’ve been a fan of Colin Jost for a while and ready this book I leaned some new things about him. Very good. I would recommend this book to anybody even if they don’t know who he is or haven’t seen snl. 10/10 would recommend this book. (I don’t even like reading books and I couldn’t even put this book down, I always wanted to see what the next chapter would be).
    Report
  • Maria Bezerra
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hilário
    Reviewed in Brazil on March 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Leia esse livro. Em todos os momentos você vai rir desesperadamente.
    Muitas histórias diferentes e engraçadas.
    Ele realmente é muito mais que um apresentador . Very Good!
    Report