A Guide to David Sedaris: 10 Acclaimed Books by David Sedaris

David Sedaris was born in New York and later moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. David received his degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and graduated in 1987. The acclaimed writer emerged on the literary scene with his essay “Santaland Diaries,” which was broadcast in 1992 on National Public Radio’s (NPR) Morning Edition. Shortly after, his first book, Barrel Fever, a collection of essays and short stories, was published in 1994. Over the years, the prolific writer has teamed up with his sister, Amy Sedaris (a comedian), to co-write a play, appeared on late-night talk shows, developed audio collections, and published dozens of essays for The New Yorker, Esquire, Harper’s, and other publications.

He’s also won numerous prestigious awards, including the Terry Southern Prize for Humor, the Thurber Prize, and the Medal for Spoken Language. David’s work has received five Grammy Award nominations for Best Spoken Word Album and Best Comedy Album.

David Sedaris is one of the most respected writers and humorists in the literary world. His New York Times best-selling books have been translated across dozens of languages. Here are some of his most well-known books:

1. 1. Barrel Fever (1994): David’s debut offering is a two-section compilation of autobiographical essays and short fiction stories. The collection includes “Santaland Diaries,” the essay that immediately put him on the map after his National Public Radio (NPR) appearance.
   
2. 2. Naked (1997): This sophomore effort is a collection of essays in which David takes the reader through his childhood, home life, and college years. In this best-seller, he approaches the enormity of his mother’s death with his signature callousness and wit, a common default for the prolific writer. David read some of these essays on the National Public Radio series This American Life before publication.
3. 3. Holidays on Ice (1997): This combination of both new and previously published work is one of David’s earlier essay and story collections. A majority of the featured writing follows the theme of Christmas and includes “Santaland Diaries,” which details his time as a department store employee when he dressed up as an elf during the holiday season.
4. 4. Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000): In this two-section, nonfiction essay collection, David shares stories about his upbringing, odd jobs, relationships, and eventual relocation to Normandy, France, where he had to learn how to speak French. David has read many of these stories on This American Life.
   
5. 5. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (2004): In this 22-essay collection, David dives into his own stories of family, childhood, jobs, and life in France. The collection includes essays about the time he visited Anne Frank’s hiding place, what transpired when he and his boyfriend started their life in France, and how he reacted to the news that his neighbors lived without television.
6. 6. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary (2010): This short-story collection about animals took over two years to write. Inspired by South African mythology, this book was David’s side-step, in which he explores an entirely new genre: fable. His unique voice brings these characters to life, connecting them with the reader through his usual quirk and playfulness.
7. 7. Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls (2013): This collection of essays touches on love, family, and personal growth. In this collection, David walks the reader through his first colonoscopy, the time he and his partner, Hugh, go for a swim in Hawaii, and childhood memories of capturing debilitated animals with his friend.
8. 8. Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) (2017): Theft is an aggregation of David’s diary entries. In it, the reader finds out that he has kept a diary for 40 years, where he closely records observations and details from the world around him. The book serves as an entry point into David’s brain, thought process, and how he perceives the world.
9. 9. Calypso (2018): This short-story collection chronicles his family life and personal relationships. The North Carolina coast, where David and his husband bought a cottage, serves as a backdrop for most stories. Like his other work, David closely observes this space and all it holds, turning the dialogue, body language, and intimate familial moments into stories.
10. 10. The Best of Me (2020): This collection of short stories and essays features the greatest hits from David’s prolific writing career. The book features entries from Me Talk Pretty One Day, Calypso, Holidays on Ice, and Barrel Fever.

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