By Ellen Degeneres
Grand Central Publishing, $26.99, 241 pages
ISBN 9780446585026

There’s no comedienne quite like Ellen DeGeneres. While her mix of pop culture references and personal anecdotes resembles the free-flowing style of stream-of-consciousness, her comedic timing and way with words are undeniable, revealing masterful crafting. She ably translates all of her considerable talents into written form with her third book, Seriously… I’m Kidding.

Much of the book delves into her personal experiences, whether she’s discussing her life after coming out, her successful talk show, her time as a CoverGirl spokeswoman, her life with Portia, or her time on American Idol. Every bit of it is not only hilarious, but engagingly honest and thoughtful. The woman behind the comedy is revealed within these pages.

There are plenty of purely comedic diversions as well, like a guided meditation exercise, a gift-giving guide, her discovery of the secret of life, and a chapter specifically for listeners of the audiobook version. Between goofy musings and insightful glimpses into her life, she remains joyously silly and overwhelmingly appreciative of the good things she has.

It’s a treat whenever Ellen is published, and Seriously… I’m Kidding is no exception.

Reviewed by Glenn Dallas