Mike Birbiglia Books In Order

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

About Mike Birbiglia
Not only is Mike Birbiglia a highly regarded comedian on the comedy circuit, but he’s also become well known for his books too. An American comic and author, he’s made a name for himself that’s fast become respected throughout the industry. Enjoyed by many, his work his both accessible and entertaining in equal measure, having performed both on-screen and off.

Previously making his name as a stand-up comic, he’s also acted in numerous television shows and films. Recently though, he’s turned his hand to writing, producing work that’s largely inspired by his own life, and will be familiar to those who’ve followed his career before. Combining observations and stories from his own life, he writes in a manner that speaks directly to the reader on a personal level.

Early and Personal Life:
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Mike Birbiglia was born on the 20th of June in 1978, being the youngest of four children. Growing up in a Catholic household, he would enjoy a relatively calm upbringing, as he would come to appreciate comedy and performing. This would also spill over into writing, as he would create his own material to perform before a live audience on a regular basis.

Attending an all-boys school, he went to St. John’s High School for just a year, followed St. Mark’s Episcopal School, which he graduated from in 1996. It was Steven Wright the comedian that then inspired Birbiglia to begin writing and performing himself at the age of sixteen. Later he would go on to attend Georgetown University, graduating from there in 2000, during which time he became part of an Improv Troupe called the Georgetown Players.
Starting out in improv, he’s go on to intern for Conan O’Brien on his TV show, beginning his career as a performer. He would fast become known for his storytelling abilities, as he could hold the audience’s attention, something which would easily transfer into his writing. Later his own work would get commissioned for television, allowing him to become a more prominent fixture on the circuit.

In the past he’s spoken about his rapid eye movement sleep disorder, something which has involved him sleepwalking. This saw him create the one-man Broadway show ‘Sleepwalk with Me’, which would go on to become extremely well regarded by his peers and critics. With a lot more to come yet, he isn’t stopping any time soon, as he continues to write and work, living with his wife Jen Stein and their daughter Oona.

Writing Career:
In 2010 Mike Birbiglia would release his first book ‘Sleepwalk with Me and Other Painfully True Stories’, which would be based upon his stage performance. Taking from his own life, it would contain a lot of true life stories, many of them filled with humorous and witty observations. Following in the tradition of many memoirs before, it was an intimate look at his life, and follow in much the same vein as his stand-up.

Following this he would go on to write the memoir ‘The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad’ in 2020. This would continue from where the last left off, this time taking a look at his life becoming a father, and many of the thoughts and ideas that came along the way. It was also well received having been derived from a Broadway stage performance too, creating a funny and irreverent examination of fatherhood.

Birbiglia has also written for the screen too, with both cinema and television writing credits to his name. This includes acting in various shows too, such as ‘Orange is the New Black’, and various stand-up specials for Netflix. He would also write for various different publications, as well as appearing on the NPR show ‘This American Life’ too.

He was a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor award in 2011 following his debut becoming a New York Times bestseller. Receiving other critics’ awards for his work too, he’s also been noted for his film’s too, such as his him gaining the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award in 2012. Still writing and performing to this day, he has plenty more planned on the horizon, as his writing grows on.

Sleepwalk With Me and Other Painfully True Stories
This would be the first book to come from Mike Birbiglia, published in 2010 through the Simon Schuster publishing label. Released on the 12th of October, it would follow on from Birbiglia’s stage performance of the same name, and would contain a number of stories from his life. From his childhood to his present life at thirty-two, it encompasses his many experiences in a witty and irreverent manner.

Telling personal stories from his life, it starts by looking at the experiences which have come to define him as a performer and writer. Providing stories on everything, from his life as a teenager and his parents, how his sleep disorder has affected him, to becoming an adult, it leaves nothing out. For those more familiar with his stand-up, they may recognize some of the stories, but there’s a lot of new material here too. As a comedic memoir it does what it does especially well, with Birbiglia being a master storyteller right through to the end.

The New One: Painfully True Stories From a Reluctant Dad
Published through the Grand Central Publishing outlet this time, this would come out in 2020 on the 14th of July. With Mike Birbiglia providing another memoir, this would focus on the next chapter in his life; fatherhood, and what it means to him. Looking at it from a funny angle, his stories ring true in a manner that’s relatable and down-to-earth, regardless of where the readers are from.

Raising his daughter Oona, the book looks at how Mike Birbiglia has dealt with fatherhood, along with his relationship with his wife Jen. Taking from his own Broadway show, the stories feature his inner thoughts and feeling in this transitional period in his life. Many parents will be able to relate to it, as it doesn’t hold back, providing an honest account of bringing up a child in the modern world.