Satire Essays

“Genius ... It is miraculous to read these pieces ... You must read The Best of Me.” —Andrew Sean Greer, New York Times Book Review For more than twenty-five years, David Sedaris has been carving out a unique literary space. A Sedaris story may seem confessional, but is also highly attuned...

A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland From Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Public, commonly referred to as A Modest Proposal, is a Juvenalian satirical essay written and published anonymously by Jonathan Swift in 1729. Swift suggests in his essay that the impoverished Irish might ease their economic troubles by selling children as food. By doing this he mocks the authority of the British officials.

A masterful collection of essays from America's most beloved humorist that will take readers to wilder and more entertaining heights than ever. "The preeminent humorist of his generation ... His reluctant charm and talent for observing every inch of the human condition remain intact."...

#1 New York Times bestseller! In this unforgettable collection of essays, acclaimed humorist David Sedaris lifts the corner of ordinary life, revealing the absurdity teeming below its surface. Sedaris plays in the snow with his sisters. He goes on vacation with his family. He gets a job selling...

"Sedaris is a remarkably skilled storyteller and savvy essayist ... And based on this collection, he's getting only better." —Los Angeles Times A guy walks into a bar car and ... From here the story could take many turns. When the guy is legendary essayist David Sedaris, the possibilities are...

In David Sedaris's world, no one is safe, and no cow is sacred. With the legendary essayist’s signature biting wit, this collection skewers family dysfunction, awkward childhood memories, and the absurdities of modern life. A do-it-yourself suburban dad saves money by performing home surgery...

A must-listen, live-recorded audiobook for newcomers and die-hard Sedaris fans alike, packed with the acclaimed humorist’s signature wit and social commentary. Bestselling essayist David Sedaris likes to test out his new material on nationwide reading tours to get the rhythm and phrasing...

Instant New York Times bestseller “Howard Zinn on acid or some bullsh*t like that.” —Tim Heidecker The creators of the cult-hit podcast Chapo Trap House deliver a manifesto for everyone who feels orphaned and alienated—politically, culturally, and economically—by modern America with...

Master The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in just one day — without oversimplifying it. This Learn It in a Day™ companion to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is built for students and serious readers who need clear, structured understanding—fast. Rather than retelling the story, this guide breaks the novel down into systems, themes, and narrative mechanisms, helping you understand not just the plot, but how Twain constructs meaning through voice, satire, and social critique. What You’ll Get: A complete structural overview of Huck’s journey In-depth analysis of core...

A hilarious, live-recorded audiobook for newcomers and long-time Sedaris fans alike, packed with the acclaimed humorist’s signature biting wit and social commentary. If you were lucky enough to have caught a performance on David Sedaris's 2009 sold-out, 34-city tour, you already know that...

In Nothing Is Wrong and Here Is Why, acclaimed satirist Alexandra Petri offers perfectly logical, reassuring reasons for everything that has happened in recent American politics that will in no way unsettle your worldview. In essays both new and adapted from her viral Washington Post columns, Petri reports that the Trump administration is as competent as it is uncorrupted, white supremacy has never been less rampant, and men have been silenced for too long. The "woman card" is a powerful card to play! Q-Anon makes perfect sense!

This program is read by the author, with contributions from Pamela Adlon and Gwen Rainbow. "The production of the audiobook...is so rich with sound effects, additional voice actors and music."—The San Francisco Chronicle "Tart, sassy, and hilariously funny from start to finish, Rainbow’s...

Having had occasion to look around for “something to read,” with long and short pieces that would not prove too deeply engaging, Leonard Wibberley—author of The Mouse that Roared as well as over 100 other novels—curated a personal selection of such choices from his writings. They are both published and unpublished works by this thoughtful and humorous man. Read all at once if one is so inclined, or savored in smaller samples, they offer selections to fit almost any mood. There is Prevarication Jones for a bit of humor, Concerning the Divinity for some personal philosophy, The ...

In this thought-provoking and playful short story collection, David Foster Wallace nudges at the boundaries of fiction with inimitable wit and seductive intelligence.Wallace's stories present a world where the bizarre and the banal are interwoven and where hideous men appear in many guises...

Part memoir, part testimonial, and part life guide, Stand by Your Truth mixes Rickey Smiley’s down-home humor with the values he learned from being raised by three generations of elders, steeped in the Baptist church, and mentored by some of the most celebrated comics in the entertainment...

Timeless Short Stories for Seniors: Rediscover Laughter, Memories, and Connection Take a joyful journey through the decades with Timeless Short Stories for Seniors—a heartwarming collection of uplifting, funny, and nostalgic tales from the 1950s to the 2000s. Whether you’re reminiscing solo or sharing a laugh with loved ones, these stories are sure to spark smiles, memories, and meaningful moments. What’s Inside: Short Stories – Lighthearted and inspiring tales that celebrate life’s humor, love, and simple joys. Large Print Format – Thoughtfully designed for easy, comfortable ...

Musings from a Pandemic: Another laugh out loud episode from the life of Peter Barber. In the midst of a global pandemic, one man transforms the chaos of quarantine into a laugh-out-loud adventure. Musings from a Pandemic captures the comedic highs and lows of lockdown life, from unraveling baffling government guidelines and the absurd antics of world leaders, to discovering joy in the little things. Whether he's grappling with supermarket sneezes, lamenting closed pubs, or contemplating the sudden importance of toilet paper, the narrator finds humour in the strangest places. With sharp wit...

Featuring acclaimed humorist David Sedaris's unique blend of hilarity and heart, this illustrated collection of animal-themed tales is an utter delight. Though the characters may not be human, the situations in these stories bear an uncanny resemblance to the insanity of everyday life. In "The...

THAT IS ONE ANGRY MONKEY! A.E. Williams opines on more matters of concern to thinking people, philosophers and chicken farmers. CODE MONKEY follows the trajectory set by ROCKET SURGEON, as A.E. Williams opens up a can of whoop-ass on science, technology, politics and religion. Yeah, all those uncomfortable subjects that polite people eschew during cocktail party banter are just gristle for the mill as far as Williams is concerned. Rocket Surgeon was just the first stage! Code Monkey ramps it up with a second-stage-to-orbit collection of articles, essays and unpublished works that will leave...

An analysis of whether Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan should be read as satire.