Bossypants
Tina Fey's hilarious and insightful memoir about comedy, leadership, and being a woman in entertainment
Overview
Bossypants by Tina Fey is a comedy memoir that traces her journey from awkward teenager to SNL head writer to creator and star of 30 Rock. The book is packed with insights about comedy writing, improv, and navigating the entertainment industry as a woman.
Fey weaves laugh-out-loud anecdotes with thoughtful observations about creativity, leadership, and the improv philosophy that shaped her career. Her reflections on the rules of improvisation double as life and career advice.
How It Works
Inspiring for actors, comedians, and writers who want to see how comedy skills and improv training can lead to extraordinary career opportunities. Fey's story is both entertaining and practically instructive.
Available in paperback, hardcover, audiobook, and digital formats, typically priced between $12-15. The audiobook read by Fey herself is particularly recommended.
Who Uses It
Highly recommended for its combination of entertainment and insight. Fey's career trajectory from Second City to SNL to showrunner is a masterclass in how improv and writing skills can build an incredible career. Beyond the laughs, the book offers genuine wisdom about creative collaboration, dealing with rejection, and the importance of persistence in a notoriously difficult industry. Fey's honest reflections on imposter syndrome, gender dynamics in comedy, and the creative process resonate with performers at every level. The book has become something of a modern classic in the comedy world, frequently recommended by working comedians and comedy writers as essential reading.
Pricing & Plans
Bossypants is widely available in paperback for around $12 to $15, hardcover editions for $16 to $20, and digital editions for approximately $11 to $13. The audiobook, narrated by Tina Fey herself, is available through Audible and other platforms, typically included with an Audible subscription or priced around $15 to $20 for a standalone purchase. The audiobook is widely considered the definitive way to experience the book, as Fey's comedic timing and delivery add an entire additional layer of humor to the already funny text. Used paperback copies are abundant and can often be found for under $5 at secondhand bookstores. For the amount of entertainment, career insight, and genuine wisdom packed into its pages, Bossypants is an exceptional value at any price point.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
Bossypants is genuinely, consistently hilarious — Fey is one of the sharpest comedy writers of her generation and the book showcases her wit on every page. Beyond the humor, the book offers surprisingly practical insights into how improv training translates to professional success in writing, performing, and leadership. Fey's honest discussion of navigating a male-dominated industry as a woman provides valuable perspective for anyone facing similar challenges in entertainment. The rules of improvisation that she outlines — including the famous 'yes, and' principle — are presented in a way that makes them immediately applicable to career and life decisions. The audiobook narration by Fey is exceptional and adds significant value, making it one of the best-produced audiobooks in the memoir category. The book manages to be both deeply personal and universally relatable, which is a rare combination.
What Could Be Better
As a career guide, Bossypants is more inspirational than instructional — readers looking for step-by-step advice on breaking into comedy or television will need to supplement it with more practical resources. Fey's path from Second City to SNL head writer to showrunner is extraordinary and not easily replicable, which can make some of the implicit career advice feel aspirational rather than actionable for most readers. The book does not dive deeply into acting technique or craft, so actors looking for training guidance will not find it here. Some sections, particularly those about Fey's childhood and family, are entertaining but have limited relevance to professional development. The book's conversational, anecdotal structure means it lacks a clear organizational framework, which can make it hard to revisit specific pieces of advice. Additionally, because the book was published in 2011, some of the industry references and cultural touchpoints have become somewhat dated.
Our Recommendation
Bossypants is recommended for any actor, comedian, or writer who wants to be both entertained and inspired by one of the most successful comedy careers of the past two decades. It is particularly valuable for women in comedy and entertainment who want to see a candid, funny account of navigating the industry. If you are looking for practical acting technique or craft instruction, this is not the right book — pair it with a more technique-focused text like Truth in Comedy or Impro. If you enjoy Bossypants, Amy Poehler's Yes Please and Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me offer similar blends of comedy memoir and career insight. The audiobook version is strongly recommended over the print edition for the full experience.
Pro Tips
Listen to the audiobook first, then get the print version to revisit specific sections — Fey's delivery makes the material significantly funnier and more impactful. Pay particular attention to her chapters on the rules of improv and how they apply to career decisions — these principles are genuinely actionable and worth internalizing. Use the book as a conversation starter with other comedy-minded actors and writers — discussing Fey's experiences can spark valuable dialogues about your own career strategy. If Fey's path from improv to writing to performing inspires you, research the training programs she attended, particularly Second City's conservatory and writing programs. Note how Fey consistently emphasizes collaboration over individual brilliance — this is a career philosophy worth adopting regardless of your specific creative goals. Revisit the book when you are facing career setbacks, as Fey's honest accounts of failure and rejection are genuinely comforting and motivating.