Naked

David Sedaris

Naked by David Sedaris is widely regarded as one of the most influential collections of comedic essays ever published. It’s a compilation of true stories that are simultaneously side-splittingly funny and painfully poignant. Sedaris examines both the mundane and extraordinary experiences of life with his sharp wit, intelligent storytelling and self-deprecating humor.The essays in Naked are full of quirky characters and absurd scenarios that only Sedaris could dream up. Take for example the time he landed a job at a “toy-dismantling factory” where he had to rip apart a cabbage patch doll by hand. Or the time he appeared as a “peasant” in a Christmas pageant, alongside a “Farrah Fawcett lookalike” whose lines were delivered in a “saucer-thin voice.”The deeper theme in Naked is of Sedaris facing inner conflict that he has previously bottled up. One of the most powerful essays is "Repeat After Me," which examines Sedaris' shame and denial of his homosexuality. He eventually learns to accept his identity and adopts a “true-life” motto: don’t be ashamed of what you are.Naked is a funny-yet-insightful look into the absurdity of life and the beauty that exists within it. Through Sedaris’ eyes, readers will laugh and cry, feeling compassion for his family and for the realizations that he makes along the way. Naked is a timeless book that will remain relevant for generations to come.