Start / NPR’s Book of the Day / In class clown humorist dave barry embraces both the funny and hard parts of life

NPR’s Book of the Day

In 'Class Clown,' humorist Dave Barry embraces both the funny and hard parts of life

9 min • 19 maj 2025
Pulitzer Prize-winner Dave Barry wrote a humor column for 22 years. In his new book Class Clown, he tells the story of the first 77 years of his life, spent embracing comedy – but also some difficulties. One focus of the book is his relationship with his parents. Barry writes that his mom was a kind of comedic mentor who possessed a uniquely dark, edgy wit, but also struggled with depression. And Barry's father was a Presbyterian minister and, he says, a famously good listener, but also developed alcoholism. In today's episode, the author joins NPR's Scott Simon for a conversation that touches on Barry's family, and also his concerns about new trends in the comedy industry.

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