Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls

By: David Sedaris

Narrated by: David Sedaris

Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Humor, 2014

From the unique perspective of David Sedaris comes a new collection of essays taking his listeners on a bizarre and stimulating world tour. From the perils of French dentistry to the eating habits of the Australian kookaburra, from the squat-style toilets of Beijing to the particular wilderness of a North Carolina Costco, we learn about the absurdity and delight of a curious traveler's experiences. Whether railing against the habits of litterers in the English countryside or marveling over a disembodied human arm in a taxidermist's shop, Sedaris takes us on side-splitting adventures that are not to be forgotten.

©2013 David Sedaris (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Sedaris is the preeminent humorist of his generation." ( Entertainment Weekly)

My first David Sedaris book won't be my last

I didn't know David Sedaris existed before 2 months ago and after reading this book i am a huge fan. can't wait to find more titles

Witty & Wise

David's delightfully cutting and insightful glimpses of the world and his life, never fail to compel laughter and compassion.

Entertaining!

Of course it's a plus that David Sedaris performs as much as he reads his essays. And of course it's a plus that they are witty and provocative. The only real down-side is when he touches a sensitive nerve or two, but then I suppose that's what provocative essays are designed to do. The essays at the beginning are much better than those at the end, which were sort of ridiculous. I listened during my commute and was sorry that it only lasted about a week.

David Sedaris !

Would you consider the audio edition of Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls to be better than the print version?

Yes

What was one of the most memorable moments of Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls?

the Amtrak bar car story

What about David Sedaris’s performance did you like?

his hilarious unpretentious take on the world.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

making a movie of this book would be such a mistake

Any additional comments?

The only thing better than reading David Sedaris is listening to david Sedaris reading his own words

Necessary

I love reading David Sedaris books, but doesn't it just take his work to another place when he narrates? Bravo.

keeping it fresh

Sedaris is so real. I love his voice and humor, it wouldn't be greatly the same to read it on paper :)

The true humor of David Sedaris’ everyday life.

The daily diary experiences captured by David Sedaris and his unique ability to share them with his audience with true feeling reflects the absurdity, sadness, angst and humor in every life. What a true joy it was to listen to this book.

Gem Collection

Fans of David Sedaris rejoice--this is his best collection of essays since "Me Talk Pretty One Day"--at least in the humble opinion of this reviewer. Sedaris is in top form here on topics ranging from airline travel to the pitfalls of foreign language instruction (Japanese, German, Chinese) to the casual everyday cruelty of children--and of adults, for that matter. The tone is in turn poignant and sarcastic, and always unflinchingly honest.

Sedaris' humor has an edge to it and he doesn't spare himself from its blade, but he unfailingly finds the comedy in his experiences and invites us to do the same. His turn of phrase manages to state truths while at the same time being very funny--one example I can't get out of my head is his observation that Americans see Australians as "Canadians in a thong."

While one or two of the essays had a familiar ring to them (perhaps from a version appearing on an episode of This American Life?), the material is almost all new as far as I can tell.

Sedaris' deadpan delivery style greatly enhances the listening experience--this is certainly an instance where the audio surpasses the print version. Highly recommended!

Started out great....but fizzled

This book starts out funny and witty in wonderful Sedaris style, but then gets very political. I turn off the TV to get away from all the different view points. I barely made it to the end.

Great music! Speaking bits in between good, too.

We actually went to hear David Sedaris read two days before this book was released. Going into the auditorium I was thinking how cool it was that he picked Columbia, SC as the feature stop on his tour; the stop right before the release. However, when he admitted that he didn't really know anything about Columbia (despite growing up in North Carolina), my hometown shriveled back down to it's normal lowly status.

As for the book, it is very good; much better than "When You are Engulfed in Flames." David has left most of the really personal reflections about his youth and family behind in "Me Talk Pretty One Day," "Naked," and "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim," but still manages to find some new ones for this book. It is amazing how many good (and funny) stories are to be found in one family.

This book is his most polished so far and David has nearly perfected his unique delivery. After hearing (watching) him live for the second time, I realized that though his speech patterns are his own, he does plan his cadence and pauses very carefully for maximum effect. I have listened to all of his books and several of his broadcasts and having done so, I don't think I could "read" his books. Hearing him read his own stories is a big part of what makes David Sedaris so enjoyable.

If you have listened to David Sedaris books before, then you will feel right at home. If not, then listen to one or more of the earlier books mentioned above first. Either way, you will enjoy this audiobook.

Let's hope there isn't 5 more years before his next one.

Oh, and the music played between the stories IS great, too.