Comedian Paul Scheer Announces Release Date for His New Memoir with Funny Throwback Photos (Exclusive)

The comedian's memoir, 'Joyful Recollections of Trauma' will be available this May

Two words we don't usually hear together are "trauma" and "joyful," but award-winning podcaster, comedian and actor Paul Scheer isn't most people. He's never been one to shy away from mining his own background for a good story, and now the time has come to gather many of those stories into one. This spring, you'll be able to read all about it in his first memoir, Joyful Recollections of Trauma (HarperOne). It's now available for preorder, and will be out wherever books are sold on May 21.

Scheer is known for his roles in The League,Black Monday, Fresh off the Boat, 30 Rock and Veep, and you may recognize his signature smile from his often charmingly cringeworthy characters. He's also the co-creator and one of the stars of comedy seriesHuman GiantandNTSF:SD:SUV. And listeners may have heard some of his childhood stories in his comedy,or during discussions on the podcasts he cohosts,How Did This Get Made?!andUnspooled.

And now the man known for "going there" is sharing his journey in his new memoir-in-essays.

“After years of telling these stories from my childhood on How Did This Get Made?! and people’s reactions to them, I decided to see if I could go past the anecdote and tell a larger story of how I grew up," Scheer tells PEOPLE. &# -

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34;Over these last two years I think I found a book that surprised me and still only scratches the surface.”

In his signature self-effacing style, Scheer is announcing the book's release date with a few photos of the book cover inserted into throwback photos from his childhood, including the classic prom date pose, a photo of himself taking his book to a nice dinner and a snapshot of it adorning a snow-covered car.

The book itself goes deep on his often shocking, admittedly messed-up childhood (his words), and the ways in which what he went through in his youth have impacted him throughout his life. In the style of bestselling celebrity memoirs from the likes of Casey Wilson, Colin Jost, Seth Rogen, Molly Shannon and Bob Odenkirk, the book doesn't flinch from the tough stuff. But it lets some sunshine in, too.

From reckoning with his stepfather’s alcoholism, to finding self-acceptance, to becoming a good father himself, the book shares some of Scheer's hard-won lessons on staying true to oneself even amid the darkest times. The author promises a fun, insightful read.

"This book has been a long time coming," Scheer says. "As you can see by the pictures, I’ve been carrying it all my life.”

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