• When You Are Engulfed in Flames

  • By: David Sedaris
  • Narrated by: David Sedaris
  • Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (10,623 ratings)

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When You Are Engulfed in Flames  By  cover art

When You Are Engulfed in Flames

By: David Sedaris
Narrated by: David Sedaris
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Publisher's summary

Once again, David Sedaris brings together a collection of essays so uproariously funny and profoundly moving that his legions of fans will fall for him all over again.

He tests the limits of love when Hugh lances a boil from his backside, and pushes the boundaries of laziness when, finding the water shut off in his house in Normandy, he looks to the water in a vase of fresh cut flowers to fill the coffee machine.

From armoring the windows with LP covers to protect the house from neurotic songbirds, to the awkwardness of having a lozenge fall from your mouth into the lap of a sleeping fellow passenger on a plane, David Sedaris uses life's most bizarre moments to reach new heights in understanding love and fear, family and strangers.

Culminating in a brilliantly funny account of his venture to Tokyo in order to quit smoking, David Sedaris' sixth essay collection has been avidly anticipated.

©2008 David Sedaris (P)2008 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

2008 Grammy Nominee, Best Spoken Word Album

"Older, wiser, smarter and meaner, Sedaris...defies the odds once again by delivering an intelligent take on the banalities of an absurd life." (Kirkus Reviews)
"This latest collection proves that not only does Sedaris still have it, but he's also getting better....Sedaris's best stuff will still - after all this time - move, surprise, and entertain." (Booklist)

What listeners say about When You Are Engulfed in Flames

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

David Sedaris never disappoints.

I own most of his books and now I have purchased most of them on audible. I often listen to books to fall asleep. The problem with this when Sedaris is narrating is that that his humor, so sophisticated, raw, and endearing, always makes me snort laugh and I am jolted awake.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Hilarious and Poignant

Like every audiobook I've listened to of David Sedaris' work, this one is read by the author and is a delight because of it. There's nothing like hearing the voices of the other people from his memoirs as he remembers them to help you feel what he felt.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not an epic waste of time- somewhat entertaining

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

A couple of chapters left me in stitches, but I find his work to be far more entertaining when read than spoken. Many nuances difficult to appreciate with his reading.

What three words best describe David Sedaris’s voice?

Whiny. Bostonian. Condescending.

Could you see When You Are Engulfed in Flames being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Eh... not so much.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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worthy of its grammy

worthy of its grammy award, this is a well recorded experience in David Sedaris. love.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Soooooo good!

David Sedaris is a MASTER! A wordsmith and humorist of the highest caliber. I definitely recommend any of his writings.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

All over the place.

Sedaris has been more intuitive and humorous.
He lost me in the last two chapters.
I’ve had friends who are not writers, not satirical, tell funnier stories about not smoking.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Well, if I were engulfed inflames...

I’d like to handle it as well as David Sedaris writes, and narrates the most amazing and mundane experiences, finding and sharing humor in all.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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David Sedaris knocks it out of the park.

If you could sum up When You Are Engulfed in Flames in three words, what would they be?

Best book ever!

What was one of the most memorable moments of When You Are Engulfed in Flames?

His description of the plane ride to Raleigh had me cracking up long after I finished listening to the book.

Which scene was your favorite?

Hard to pick just one favorite, but as soon as I finished listening I just started it over, it was that good.

Any additional comments?

When I'm stressed out I listen to David Sedaris, he always puts a smile on my face and keeps me focused on the lighter side of life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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David sedaris is my hero

Loved the book! David sedaris is very funny. It was entertaining from beginning to end. It is sunny out side

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    5 out of 5 stars
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David at his best

This is as close as I’ll ever come to having David in my living room and reading to me for 10 hours and that’s just fine with me. I’ll take it! He proves once again why he is an American treasure.

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