Fierce Pajamas: An Anthology of Humor Writing from The New Yorker

Fierce Pajamas collects humor pieces published in The New Yorker magazine from 1925 to the present, selected by editors David Remnick and Henry Finder. The anthology features works from writers including James Thurber, Dorothy Parker, Woody Allen, Steve Martin, and David Sedaris. The pieces span multiple humor styles and formats - from satirical essays and parodies to absurdist fiction and comedic reporting. The collection preserves the wit and sophistication that became The New Yorker's signature, while documenting how American humor writing evolved over nearly a century. Authors tackle subjects from literary pretension and social climbing to office politics and domestic life. The selections showcase both enduring human foibles and the particular anxieties of their respective eras. The anthology reveals how humor can serve as both entertainment and cultural commentary, using comedy to illuminate the values, fears and preoccupations of different decades in American life.

Readers note this anthology captures the evolution of The New Yorker's humor writing across multiple decades. Many reviews mention the strong early pieces by James Thurber, Dorothy Parker, and S.J. Perelman as highlights. Readers appreciated: - The mix of subtle literary wit and outright absurdity - Historical context provided by the editors - Quality of writing remains relevant despite age - Strong representation of humor styles across eras Common criticisms: - Uneven quality between selections - Some pieces feel dated or require cultural context - Too heavy on older material (pre-1970s) - Length makes it better for sampling than continuous reading Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,124 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (82 ratings) Multiple readers noted specific pieces like Woody Allen's "The Whore of Mensa" and Ian Frazier's "Dating Your Mom" as standouts. Several reviewers recommended reading it in small doses rather than straight through.

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin Martin's memoir of his stand-up comedy years presents the same blend of intellectual wit and cultural commentary found in The New Yorker's pages.

I Found This Funny by Judd Apatow This collection brings together humor pieces from writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, curated with the same literary sensibility as The New Yorker's selections.

The Insanity Defense by Woody Allen These collected works from The New Yorker and other publications mirror the sophisticated comic voice and urban observations of Fierce Pajamas.

The Most of S.J. Perelman by S.J. Perelman Perelman's collected works showcase the same masterful wordplay and satirical approach that characterizes The New Yorker's signature style.

The 50 Funniest American Writers by Andy Borowitz This anthology spans Mark Twain to David Sedaris, presenting a similar breadth of American humor writing as found in Fierce Pajamas.

🗞️ Though published in 2001, this collection includes humor pieces spanning The New Yorker's entire history, from its founding in 1925 through the modern era. ✍️ The anthology features work from literary giants like Dorothy Parker, Woody Allen, Steve Martin, and James Thurber, showing how The New Yorker has long been a platform for both established writers and comedic performers. 📚 The book's quirky title comes from a 1997 piece by Peter De Vries, "Confession of a Coward," in which he describes wearing "fierce pajamas" to bed as protection against nighttime intruders. 🎭 Several pieces in the collection were written by authors better known for their serious work, including Vladimir Nabokov and John Updike, revealing their lesser-known humorous sides. 🏆 Editor David Remnick, who selected the pieces with Henry Finder, won the Pulitzer Prize for his book "Lenin's Tomb" and has been the editor of The New Yorker since 1998, marking one of the magazine's longest editorial tenures.