Funny Because It's True

“The inside story of how a comedy institution was born in Wisconsin, cracked up the country, and changed the way we think about news and satire. I devoured it!”—Patton Oswalt

“Despite dozens of copycats, thousands of comedians, and an exhausting amount of late-night political commentary, The Onion stands alone as the strongest example of incendiary satire in America. Christine Wenc has provided us with a necessary and long overdue history of an enduring, influential gem.”—Kliph Nesteroff, author of The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy

“It feels weird being earnest about a history of The Onion but there's no way around it: I loved this book with all my heart. Funny Because It's True is a thrilling, inspiring must read for comedy nerds and normals alike. Christine Wenc has managed to write a book worthy of The Onion's greatness.”—Simon Rich, author of Glory Days

“The Onion might take silly things seriously, and so does this book—which documents one of the most original ideas to come out of Generation X with the intensity it deserves. Christine Wenc’s deep reporting and you-are-there-anecdotes make sure that everyone knows The Onion’s brilliance is no accident.”
 —Tricia Romano, author of The Freaks Came Out to Write: The Definitive History of the Village Village, the Radical Newspaper That Changed American Culture

“You may ask whether a ‘fake news’/news parody outlet deserves such a serious work of history. After you see how The Onion and its writers sparked some of the great comedy that has helped us survive this dreadful century, your answer may well be ‘Yes!’”—Jeff Cohen, founder of FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting)