• 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 (10,626 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

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Super FUNNY!

On a couple of occasions this book had me laughing so hard that my eyes watered. Great read.

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  • MM
  • 04-02-18

Hilarious!

I love David Sedaris! He is very funny. If you find me laughing out loud alone, there is a good chance that I’m listening to his books!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Hilarious

No way makes you feel like there is hope for you yet, like Davis Sedaris does. Warning: You will laugh out loud as you listen to this.

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Loved!!!

Strongly recommend!!! Laughed hysterically, which I don’t often do. Not just from funny but from the truth of it. The underneath of life, spoken out loud.

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Eh

The stores were interesting and he does have an interesting humor, but I could only handle the whining of an old man for so long without wanting to commit seppuku.

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Love it!!

This is my second listen from David Sedaris and I loved both. Commentary and humor, I laughed so hard a few times I cried. I laugh a lot, but some of the things he said threw me over the edge and I had to stop the book to gather myself. What is so bad, is that I still have things pop into my head from "Me Talk Pretty One Day", seemingly at random, and I start giggling while talking to no one and doing nothing. This does not promote the appearance of sanity on a personal level, now I have twice as much to run through my head.

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Hilarious

I really enjoyed this book. Sedaris is hysterical in such an unassuming, clever way. I’m sad that it ended!

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The most entertaining book I have ever listened to!

I recommend the audiobook version, Sedaris’ delivery will knock you dead! His unique sense of humor is an utter delight!

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Such a big fan of Sedalia

In my opinion David Sedaris is incapable of writing anything bad. He did not disappoint with “Engulfed In Flames”. He is so irreverent and matter of fact... I just really enjoy his perspective.

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Fabulous!!

As always, hilarious! DS delivers again!. now I'm busy listening to another DS audiobook :)

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