The Best of Me

Although I am not usually a fan of compilations of old work or “clip shows,” The Best of Me by David Sedaris has me alternately laughing out loud and feeling both uncomfortable and melancholy. These feelings of discomfort and bittersweet sadness are not bad feelings in this context, because they come from a place of empathy and evoke a desire to learn more as Sedaris takes me through his “old work.” Even though I have read and listened to much of his work before, this compilation provides a fresh perspective of what Sedaris believes to be the best of him.

Sedaris’s classic wit and weirdness (again, not using this pejoratively; the lines are blurry between these descriptors) come through in every short essay. His observational skills and his ability to describe those observations are second-to-none. It is always a pleasure to read or hear anything from Mr. Sedaris.

From Me Talk Pretty One Day to Nuit of the Living Dead, you’ll be laughing, or maybe crying, but I can guarantee you’ll be feeling like a member of humanity and enjoying yourself when you read The Best of Me by David Sedaris.