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The Best of Me

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The Best of Me

By: David Sedaris
Narrated by: David Sedaris
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About this listen

 What could be a more tempting Christmas gift than a compendium of David Sedaris's best stories, selected by the author himself? From a spectacular career spanning almost three decades, these stories have become modern classics and are now for the first time collected in one volume.

For more than twenty-five years, David Sedaris has been carving out a unique literary space, virtually creating his own genre. A Sedaris story may seem confessional, but is also highly attuned to the world outside. It opens our eyes to what is at absurd and moving about our daily existence. And it is almost impossible to read without laughing.

Now, for the first time collected in one volume, the author brings us his funniest and most memorable work. In these stories, Sedaris shops for rare taxidermy, hitchhikes with a lady quadriplegic, and spits a lozenge into a fellow traveler's lap. He drowns a mouse in a bucket, struggles to say 'give it to me' in five languages and hand-feeds a carnivorous bird.

But if all you expect to find in Sedaris's work is the deft and sharply observed comedy for which he became renowned, you may be surprised to discover that his words bring more warmth than mockery, more fellow-feeling than derision. Nowhere is this clearer than in his writing about his loved ones. In these pages, Sedaris explores falling in love and staying together, recognizing his own aging not in the mirror but in the faces of his siblings, losing one parent and coming to terms - at long last - with the other.

Taken together, the stories in The Best of Me reveal the wonder and delight Sedaris takes in the surprises life brings him. No experience, he sees, is quite as he expected - it's often harder, more fraught and certainly weirder - but sometimes it is also much richer and more wonderful.

Full of joy, generosity, and the incisive humor that has led David Sedaris to be called 'the funniest man alive' (Time Out New York), The Best of Me spans a career spent watching and learning and laughing - quite often at himself - and invites readers deep into the world of one of the most brilliant and original writers of our time.©2020 David Sedaris Parenting & Families Nonfiction Funny Winter Christmas

Critic Reviews

For the past couple of decades, David Sedaris has more or less created his own genre, with his confessional stories that reveal both the absurdity and the emotion of everyday life. His funniest and most incisive work is now brought together in one volume
A whirlwind tour of this genius writer's greatest hits
The ideal introduction for anyone not yet acquainted with the American master of deadpan autobiographical comedy. Sedaris selects highlights from his three decades of making readers and listeners laugh, wince and sob at the weirdness and wonder of other people
Dipping into David Sedaris's mind in his wonderful collected works The Best of Me has been a balm and a joy
All stars
Most relevant
What a rare treat. To be exposed to the honesty and quite often brutal frankness of David’s observations is an insight into a life of great perseverance and mistakes, all admitted and outlined with humour and grace. If it was me, the Tiffany story, after a show, would be left on the cutting floor. But that’s the magic. If DS comes to my town, I’m there. Not a novel, but one of my Audible favourites.

Sedaris must be another word for honest

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pretty much everything I would include in his best of. I really dont like his dog story though.

great collection

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David Sedaris is my faviourite author and while I have all his books and audio recordings already, it was wonderful to hear this collection and the excellent interview at the end.

Does not disappoint

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A great collection.
I never get tired of listening to David’s stories and observations on life. I’ll definitely listen to this again and again especially when I need to smile .

Great

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I have been a fan of David Sedaris for years and when I noticed he had a released a new book I got excited. However this is yet another apparent new release with just more recycled material from previous books. There’s very little in the Best of Me that is new and would justify buying it.
From now I will avoid David Sedaris’ future releases. I’m afraid that if Mr Sedaris wishes to maintain his fan base he might have to work a little harder rather resting on his old and tired laurels

Just recycled material

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I tried for hours but couldn't get into this book. My first ever unfinished novel. I can't say I'll be back for more of David's work.

A dud

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