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)

It's fine.

Not as good as his earlier works. Sedaris seems angrier now. Still enjoyable, but not uproarious like Me Talk Pretty One Day. Guess that's what happens as you get older.

makes me really laugh.

I'm not one to break out laughing but with David Sedaris stories I really do and have to catch my breath. It's great to have a good laugh.

Sedaris is always a hoot to hear

Would you listen to Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls again? Why?

Mr Sedaris show the abnormal in normal daily life. Examining his thoughts and bring us a delight to read. Otra!

David Sedaris is one sick puppy.

David Sedaris is one sick puppy. I'm not sure what that says about me :-)

I highly recommend you listen so you can then questioned your own moral fiber.

First Sedaris Audiobook

Where does Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have read David Sedaris' text, but hearing him narrate his own stories brings a completely new aspect to the experience. His comedic timing is great. The very first story in the book, about his visit to a taxidermy shop, has stuck with me and I still laugh about it.

Interesting Stories

If you could sum up Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls in three words, what would they be?

Funny, intriguing, interesting.

What did you like best about this story?

I thought he was honest and expressed his true self.

What does David Sedaris bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Reading it would not have been the same. David was speaking to me.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Not his best work, but entertaining.

Probably still worth spending a credit, but it's no Naked or Me Talk Pretty One Day. Still though, I enjoyed many of the essays.

Very funny but NOT if the kids are within range!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Sedaris has a very funny take on life. He shares a few hysterical stories in this book. However, there is quite a bit of scatological humor and numerous homosexual scenarios that some people might find offensive. I know it is just "not him" to do a funny book minus his "whole life", which necessarily includes the homosexual stuff. But I felt like it was just a bit overboard in some of the stories, at least for my taste. That's why I only gave it 3 stars overall and 3 for the story. The first 2 stories are very good. After that it kind of goes downhill.

Would you be willing to try another book from David Sedaris? Why or why not?

Since Sedaris uses so much humor that I find somewhat obscene and gross, I probably will stay away from his other books. I wish the "cleaner" stories could be gathered into one collection. THAT I would buy and happily listen to!

What about David Sedaris’s performance did you like?

Sedaris is very expressive conveying a great range of emotions and situations with his voice. You can easily imagine what he, or the people he is portraying, look like, and how they feel, just from how he expresses what they say. He is very good with descriptions too. There is interesting music between stories.

Any additional comments?

If you DO listen to this book, be sure to listen till the very end. There is a wonderful contribution from Pimsleur just before "Audible hopes you have enjoyed..."

Slow start, but hang in there!

The book started with the least funny, but about the time I got to the fifth essay, Sedaris was cracking me up again. The Pimsleur bonus track was amazing.

More autobiographical

A little bit more of an inside look at Sedaris day to day. For example, how he has kept his diaries. Still damn funny.