The Best of Me

The Best of Me

  • Downloads:2120
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-09-10 18:21:08
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:David Sedaris
  • ISBN:0316242403
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

“Genius… It is miraculous to read these pieces… You must read The Best of Me。” —Andrew Sean Greer, New York Times Book Review

New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice

A CNN and Christian Science Monitor Best Book of the Month

For more than twenty-five years, David Sedaris has been carving out a unique literary space。 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。 Nowhere is this clearer than in    his writing about his loved ones。 Here, 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。
 
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。

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Reviews

Byron Rempel

The master。

Jillian White

I spit coffee all over my car and myself。 Would not recommend listening while eating or drinking anything that stains。

Leah Fessler

Can't get enough of the family dynamics。 Had a read a couple of the short stories before, but it was fun to read them in a different order。 Can't get enough of the family dynamics。 Had a read a couple of the short stories before, but it was fun to read them in a different order。 。。。more

Spencer

The fiction is weird and the best personal essays have been previously published in his other better collections。

Taylor

I read “Me Talk Pretty One Day” more than a decade ago, and I still laugh at those stories today。 Perfect road trip entertainment。

Christine

3。5 stars。 Mixed bag - some essays v funny, others not so much。

Bryan

David Sedaris is truly one of the joys of life。 I love his writing and this was a great retrospective。 I almost knocked off a star for those animal fables that I HATE but then he won me right back over with the truly moving (and still hilarious) essays immediately after。 There is genius and real growth throughout this collection。

Zoe

These were great to revisit, and some towards the end were new。 Always love everything by David, I really relate being a member of a big family。 The interview at the end was interesting, I'd love to hear him read one day! Sounds like such an important part of his process。 These were great to revisit, and some towards the end were new。 Always love everything by David, I really relate being a member of a big family。 The interview at the end was interesting, I'd love to hear him read one day! Sounds like such an important part of his process。 。。。more

Emily Dawley

For full review, please visit Travel All the Pages at:https://www。travelallthepages。com/blo。。。 For full review, please visit Travel All the Pages at:https://www。travelallthepages。com/blo。。。 。。。more

Markus Pietilä

3,5/5?

Shelley Bainter

Will always be grateful I listened to this audiobook to hear the reading of “Six to Eight Black Men” for the first time。 The entire collection is good。 Of course。

Lauralee Hites

I wanted to love this book like Calypso but, I couldn't。 I didn't enjoy many of the short stories, they were not funny to me。 I wanted to love this book like Calypso but, I couldn't。 I didn't enjoy many of the short stories, they were not funny to me。 。。。more

Elizabeth

Loved this! Laughed out loud so many times while reading that I lost count。 I haven’t read any of Sedaris’ books before, though I’ve known about them。 I might need to go back and read them now! His humor is spot on; especially loved the French class stories。 So good! Read it right away!

Megan Gery

The chapters about him learning French are pee-your-pants funny。 The chapters about his family are so tender。 The balance between humor and sentimentality is perfect。

Nancy

I was about 25% into this compilation when I realized, "oh, I've read these all before。" It seems obvious now that I've actually read the description that the "The Best of Me" is what Sedaris considers his best work。。。 oops。 The good news is that, as usual, I find him a joy to read and was happy to revisit some of our mutual favorites。 But, generally, if you've read most of David Sedaris's work, you don't need to read this。 Just give this as a gift to someone who hasn't read him。 I was about 25% into this compilation when I realized, "oh, I've read these all before。" It seems obvious now that I've actually read the description that the "The Best of Me" is what Sedaris considers his best work。。。 oops。 The good news is that, as usual, I find him a joy to read and was happy to revisit some of our mutual favorites。 But, generally, if you've read most of David Sedaris's work, you don't need to read this。 Just give this as a gift to someone who hasn't read him。 。。。more

Rachel M

The first time I tried to read this book, I didn’t really get it。 There were short stories with fictional characters, which felt like a new style for him。 But there is a lot I haven’t read from Sedaris。 I only recently picked it up again - and I loved it。 The same funny, ego-less, bizarre, and raw Sedaris I remember from Calypso and his other novels。 I really just love his books - all page turners and have me laugh out loud。 When the book comes to a close, I’m ready for it to be over。 Good lengt The first time I tried to read this book, I didn’t really get it。 There were short stories with fictional characters, which felt like a new style for him。 But there is a lot I haven’t read from Sedaris。 I only recently picked it up again - and I loved it。 The same funny, ego-less, bizarre, and raw Sedaris I remember from Calypso and his other novels。 I really just love his books - all page turners and have me laugh out loud。 When the book comes to a close, I’m ready for it to be over。 Good length, great stories。 Thank you for the read! 。。。more

Jen Raj

I've never read anything by David Sedaris I really enjoyed this book。 I needed a good laugh during these very trying times。 I've never read anything by David Sedaris I really enjoyed this book。 I needed a good laugh during these very trying times。 。。。more

Melissa

David Sedaris is a writing genius and I never tire of it, though it is the rare occasion when I actually prefer hearing him read on an audio book because that is a huge part of the fun。 Some of this book I had read before in a previous one but it was fun all over again。 No one has the cynical, awkward humor of David Sedaris。 It is about all I can handle if I read one a year but I sure look forward to it。

Michele Connolly

I didn't enjoy the stories from his animal oeuvre; but the rest were a delight, even reading them the second time around。 I didn't enjoy the stories from his animal oeuvre; but the rest were a delight, even reading them the second time around。 。。。more

Kate

Very enjoyable, but I think my rating would have been higher had I not read most of this content fairly recently。

Eriche

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 The interview at the end of the audio version was amazing and made this more amazing。 This collection had some of my favorites and some new ones to me。 The sea turtle story threw me clear across the room。

Elizabeth Frey-Thomas

Sedaris is always a go-to。 This was particularly enjoyable as an audio book, as the author reads it himself。 It includes some oldies-but-goodies, and some less popular essays that are real gems。

Kim

Most of the stories I had already heard, but they still make me laugh。

David

I liked it。 I think Sedaris is pretty funny, and also rather like his voice。 This was a best of and I have read a lot of his other books, so there wasn't a lot of new material here for me。 I re-read some old favorites。 Read a few essays that were new or that I didn't remember, and skipped a few that I did remember and didn't love。 I liked it。 I think Sedaris is pretty funny, and also rather like his voice。 This was a best of and I have read a lot of his other books, so there wasn't a lot of new material here for me。 I re-read some old favorites。 Read a few essays that were new or that I didn't remember, and skipped a few that I did remember and didn't love。 。。。more

Olga Vannucci

Before there was HughThere were Sharon and LouAnd Lisa and GretchenAnd Amy and thenPaul and Tiffany too。

Laura Meese

I love Sedaris's humor。 You can see how his tone changes as the stories progress。 I gave it 4 stars only because I had already read some of these stories。 They are fantastic though。 I love Sedaris's humor。 You can see how his tone changes as the stories progress。 I gave it 4 stars only because I had already read some of these stories。 They are fantastic though。 。。。more

Joni McNeal

I always want more essays and less fiction。 Because this was a compilation, there were some flow issues, but otherwise, it was pure gold。

Gretavo1

Some new pieces, some old。 A bit more melancholy。 The pieces about his father are outstanding (albeit very sad)。

Beth

A best-of collection, in order of publication。 So happy to read many of these stories again。

Claudia

I love anything David Sedaris except maybe the animal fables。 This one is the usual funny, interesting, but there is a deep poignancy that presents itself to make these stories all the more engaging and meaningful。