Four Must-Read Non-Fiction Authors

The following non-fiction authors are must-reads because they are funny, with plenty of interesting facts and insights.

David Sedaris

David Sedaris is a middle-aged gay man who divides his time between London and Paris. His essay collections are funny, with the kind of painfully truthful humor that makes you say "I shouldn't be laughing at this, but it's so funny." Sedaris' essays often make fun of his own failings and flaws: his selfishness, his tendency toward melodrama, bad habits. The reader can relate to this because all humans have these flaws.

Sedaris began his writing career as a regular contributor to public radio's This American Life. He has published several essay collections, including Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim and his latest When You Are Engulfed in Flames. This best-selling author will split your sides- and make you think.

Sarah Vowell

Sarah Vowell spent part of her youth in Oklahoma and part of it in Montana. Today, she lives in New York. She has made hilarious appearances on The Daily Show and The Late Show with David Letterman.Her is a history buff and many of her books are about American History. Her latest book is called The Wordy Shipmates. It's about the puritans. You can hear Sarah Vowell read some of her stories at thisamericanlife.org, where they have free podcasts of most of their shows.

Anne Lamott

This "vaguely Jesusy bon-vivante" is a born-again Christian who is refreshingly un-self-righteous. This woman is an unapologetic repeat sinner- a progressive, left-wing Christian whose love for Jesus has to do with her desire for spiritual growth, not adherence to tradition. She has written Grace Eventually, Bird by Bird and Traveling Mercies, among other.

Mary Roach

Mary Roach is a science writer. She writes the kind of books that make you feel like a genius when you're done with them- she teaches you so much about things you have always pondered but could never find real info about. At the same time, she is very funny.

Her best-selling book Stiff is about what we do with bodies after somebody dies . She writes about the cremation, scientific research and military testing that bodies are used for in our society. The book is full of humor, but still respectful of the dead. It's far from ghoulish and highly recommended. Mary Roach's latest is Bonk which debuted in 2008. It's about the science of sex. Once again, it is funny but not lewd or gross. It details the ways that scientists have studied human sexual behavior. It answers alot of questions about biology, the human body and sex- questions you would never ask aloud.