Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Barrel Fever and Other Stories  By  cover art

Barrel Fever and Other Stories

By: David Sedaris
Narrated by: David Sedaris, Amy Sedaris
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $14.81

Buy for $14.81

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In David Sedaris' world, no one is safe and no cow is sacred. A manic cross between Mark Leyner, Fran Lebowitz, and the National Enquirer, Sedaris' collection of essays is a rollicking tour through the national Zeitgeist: a do-it-yourself suburban dad saves money by performing home surgery; a man who is loved too much flees the heavyweight champion of the world; a teenage suicide tries to incite a lynch mob at her funeral; a bitter Santa abuses the elves.

David Sedaris made his debut on NPR's Morning Edition with "SantaLand Diaries", recounting his strange-but-true experiences as an elf at Macy's, and soon became one of the show's most popular commentators. With a perfect eye and a voice infused with as much empathy as wit, Sedaris writes stories and essays that target the soulful ridiculousness of our behavior. Barrel Fever is like a blind date with modern life, and anything can happen.

©1994, 1996, 1997, 1998 David Sedaris (P)1998, 2001 Time Warner AudioBooks

Critic reviews

"Extremely, relentlessly funny." (Booklist)
"David and Amy Sedaris have a deadpan delivery as ironic as the words they read. The two of them create a nuclear barrage of humor you could never replicate by reading this material on your own." (The Boston Globe)

What listeners say about Barrel Fever and Other Stories

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    511
  • 4 Stars
    195
  • 3 Stars
    114
  • 2 Stars
    36
  • 1 Stars
    21
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    441
  • 4 Stars
    76
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    343
  • 4 Stars
    109
  • 3 Stars
    71
  • 2 Stars
    21
  • 1 Stars
    8

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Classic Sedaris..

Fans of Sedaris will love this collection of essays and stories. Sedaris has a wit about him like no other. Very LGBTQIA+ friendly. Highly recommend if you enjoy hilarity & well written stories. This is an early collection from Sedaris. This book is exactly why I fell in love with this author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

David Sedalia at his best

As a writer, storyteller and reader, David` Sedaris has done another fine job. These stories are original and engaging—-and fun.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another delight

Listening to David and Amy Sedaris reading was an utter utter delight! I hope he will include more family members in his readings in the future!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

funny funny funny

The usual wit from a very funny man 😊... Original, provocative, silly and gutbustingly funny.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Easily David Sedaris at his best

I just love early Sedaris. Some of the satirical stuff is unlike what he does now (like Don’s Story, about a loser who goes to Hollywood and is courted by all these bigwig producers and stars about selling his life story), but I still love them.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Barrel Fever - a Triumph!

Barrel Fever is an absolute joy to read and listen to. David and Amy Sedalia are two of my wife’s and my favorite authors, truly gifted. Can’t say enough wonderful things about them both, and this fabulous book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Uneven but still great

A mixture of essays and short stories, there are some great moments, but also some not so great. Not bad, mind you, just not as consistently good as David's later publications. Still, in the end, a must for Sedaris fans.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

love David Sedaris

Laugh out loud funny story telling at it's best. I love it best when he talks about his family with their bizarre humor.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

David Sedaris is Edgier and Sometimes Funnier

Davis Sedaris was younger when he wrote this book and his sense of humor is dark and hilarious. LOVE this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

More of the same, not bad but nothing new

More of the same, not bad but nothing new from David. Hoped for more i guess.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!