Humour Me When Engulfed In Flames

David Sedaris.
His writing is funny, honest, and most times surprising.
His humour is sarcastic, auto-biographical, and self-deprecating. It is a perfect mix of sad and happy stories.

I came across David Sedaris reading a passage on David Letterman. The video below was my first exposure to his hunour, his honesty, his unashamed stories. I immediately bought all his books and began reading into his life, his stories and somehow, unbeknownst to me I found myself relating to a 52 year old writer from New York with a lisp and odd habits.

My favourite of his books would have to be Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim.
Although all of his books bring a different perspective of himself. And they together as a collective reveal something hidden about the human condition. Perhaps the fact that we are all flawed perfectly.

David Sedaris reading from his latest book, When You Are Engulfed In Flames.
Try to hold back your laughter... I couldn't.
(He has this adorable lisp when he talks, this is besides the point.)


I found out soon after that he is a regular contributor of NPR - National Public Radio and This American Life. Two of my favourite listens.

Stories of the American Life

This American Life

Stories became important to me when I realized that they are all we are. We as people accumulate stories through our everyday interactions. And these hopefully one day will entice someone to find interest in us. Our stories are what give us depth, meaning and purpose.
Without Stories what would we have? But empty minds and routined actions.

I was on a book adventure, reading all the books I thought should be read. Mostly Augusten Burroughs, David Sedaris, and Joan Didion novels. I soon became tired of reading and wanted to hear the stories.

I began listening to this podcast a little over 2 years ago, I happened upon it one day and without knowing what to expect I heard the voice of Ira Glass, the host of the Chicago Public Radio Station. He began with a story about two people on the search for happiness. My first and soon to be favourite podcast to listen to.

The stories are first-person short fiction pieces that are touching, funny and surprising.
Each week, Ira Glass never fails to point out and reveal something hidden or so blateantly obvious about the human condition and the humanity we all seek and try to preserve.

Listen here: or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Favourite podcast stories include: #75 Kindness of Strangers, #374 Somewhere Out There, #347 Matchmaker