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)

Book is great, performance mixed

Made my drive in ridiculous traffic very worthwhile. But it would stop playing in random spots for no specific reason.

More funny Sedaris

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. This is smart humour. David Sedaris delivery is great. I always enjoy books read by the author.

What other book might you compare Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls to and why?

When Engulfed in Flames is very similar.

Which character – as performed by David Sedaris – was your favorite?

David Sedaris

funny

I've​ listened to it before and I laughed out loud both times. The to Mr. Sedaris for sharing his life.

Love it

This was my first Sedaris book and I thought it was AWESOME. I am a fan now and looking forward to more.

Mixed bag of amusing leftovers

Any additional comments?

As any reader of the New Yorker knows, not all of Sedaris' musings prompt nods, snickers or giggles. Several of these pieces seem more diary entries than anything a larger audience might respond to. Publisher: "What haven't we printed yet?" The best of these pieces are performed live to adoring audiences, and work best.

a little biased, since I'm a long time Sedaris fan

This book didn't disappoint. Perhaps one of my favorites, alongside "Me Talk Pretty One Day."

Fantastic

Wonderfully written little nuggets to spread out throughout the work week. Funny and thought provoking

My Happy Place

I love listening to David's voice, his unique inflections and his impersonations of his family and friends. His family is much like my own and as a Carolinian I can relate to the places he has been down to the same cottages on Emerald Isle.

Oh, David.

Would you try another book from David Sedaris and/or David Sedaris?

Of course, I would.

If you’ve listened to books by David Sedaris before, how does this one compare?

I have always viewed Sedaris' books as veritable gems. This one, however, felt like an imposter. I noticed the absence of three things that NO author-not even a bestselling one-should compromise; focus, audio quality and a good editor. I could've lived with the terrible audio and bizarre musical transitions, but the lack of focus (or an editor to catch it) was prevalent in every story. It was like Sedaris was trying to sound introspective and deliver some type of 'make you think about it' moments that came across insincere and disjointed. For example, a story about Loggerhead turtles jumped to gay black men in a bathroom together and David's opining about 'living on the run', then back to turtles, over to the best friend's father's death by heart attack/alcoholism, then a bb gun and back to turtles again. Before, David managed to hit those posts naturally. Not this time. I also noticed a bit more gratuitous blue language. Don't get me wrong; I can cuss a dead man to walk but it didn't sound right coming from David.

Would you be willing to try another one of David Sedaris’s performances?

Yes

Sedaris makes a comeback

What made the experience of listening to Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls the most enjoyable?

After having been disappointed my some of Sedaris's recent work, I thought that this was a real return to his unique style of deadpan, absurdist humor. One complaint is that some of his work in this book was previously published elsewhere, but it still feels fresh to hear him read it.