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  • 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 (10,657 ratings)

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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
  • 5 Stars
    6,684
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 1 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great entry in the Sedaris ouvre

Hysterical in many parts . . . great of course to hear Sedaris reading it himself.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

When you are engulfed in...

...When You Are Engulfed in Flames
Whether or not you're a Sedaris fan you will surely enjoy this book. This was quintessential David S. with an added bonus. FUNNIER and MORE FULFILLING than any other! Real life experiences with real life reactions are the cornerstone of this witty dry comedy!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

laugh OUTLOUD

I spent the summer traveling through parts of Europe, California and Texas all on foot. Therefore I was hooked onto my ipod and listened to this book with David's awesome voice and flection. I found myself laughing aloud on the airplane, while walking alone, on the subway and constantly retelling the tales in order to encourage more people to purchase this wonderful wonderful book. Thank you DS for your talents.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Flaming

I became engulfed in flames Listening to this involved, manic depresent. If this guy writes another book. it should be read to a croud of drunks in an underground Village bar.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Performance

This is definitely a title that I'll listen to again and again rather than once. Enjoyed every minute.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

My first Sedaris book

I enjoyed this book and I like Sedaris' writing. I would have rated this book higher but I did not enjoy the "live" sections of the book. Not only did it feel lazy, his reading without an audience was much better. Much smoother and funnier. Why just rehash some live recording? Would it kill you to read the extra sections. Having a laugh track does not make it funnier. Just the opposite. Other than that, a really fun listen.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

some what odd but delightful

as per usual David Sedaris writes about life in a delightfully odd and whimsically amusing way.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

David Sedaris FTW.

What did you love best about When You Are Engulfed in Flames?

I really enjoyed how this book flowed. Sometimes his collections of stories have a tendency to be just that: a collection of stories. This book flowed incredibly well and more than once made me laugh aloud.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hilarious and Original

David Sedaris is a National Treasure. I laughed throughout the entire listening of this book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Amusing

I might even go so far as to call it mildly entertaining, but I don't want to be accused of overselling it

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