Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
The best general introduction to Kaling's voice, life, comedy, and career.
Author guide
Mindy Kaling Books in Order
Mindy Kaling is an American comedian, writer, actress, producer, and playwright. She co-wrote the play Matt & Ben, became known for her writing and acting on The Office, created and starred in The Mindy Project, and has published memoirs, humorous essays, and a conversational gift book.
memoiressayshumordrama
Catalog record updated .
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Matt & Ben: A New Play
The earliest separately published book-length work and a concise introduction to her playwriting.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (1)
Nonfiction (2)
- Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
memoir · 2011
Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck - impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress…
- Why Not Me?
memoir · 2015
From the author of the beloved New York Times bestselling book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and the creator and star of The Mindy Project comes a collection of essays that are as hilarious and insightful as they are deeply…
Essays and speeches (1)
- Nothing Like I Imagined (Except for Sometimes)
essay-collection · 2020
Plays (1)
- Matt & Ben: A New Play
play · 2004
Frequently asked questions about Mindy Kaling
What is Mindy Kaling best known for?
Mindy Kaling is an American writer, actor, producer, and director who rose to prominence through her work on the NBC comedy The Office. She later created and starred in The Mindy Project.
Is Mindy Kaling Indian American?
Yes. Kaling is Indian American, with Bengali and Tamil heritage; her parents were Indian immigrants who met in Nigeria.
Sources: vogue.in (opens in a new tab)hls.harvard.edu (opens in a new tab)
What influenced Mindy Kaling’s television work?
Her mother, an OB/GYN, partly inspired the doctor protagonist of The Mindy Project. Kaling has also drawn on her Indian American identity and her experiences as a woman in comedy.
Sources: televisionacademy.com (opens in a new tab)vogue.in (opens in a new tab)
What major awards has Mindy Kaling received?
Kaling received the National Medal of Arts in 2021 and the Producers Guild of America’s Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television in 2023.
Sources: arts.gov (opens in a new tab)producersguild.org (opens in a new tab)
What is Mindy Kaling’s legacy in television?
Kaling helped expand mainstream television’s representation of Indian American women and other underrepresented female perspectives. Her producing and creative work has been recognized for bringing previously overlooked characters and experiences to television.
Sources: vogue.in (opens in a new tab)producersguild.org (opens in a new tab)