When You Are Engulfed in Flames

By David Sedaris

Book Overview

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." ―Entertainment Weekly

In this hilarious volume, Sedaris proceeds from the bizarre conundrums of daily life--having a lozenge fall from your mouth into the lap of a fellow passenger on a plane or armoring the windows with LP covers to protect the house from neurotic songbirds--to the most deeply resonant human truths. Culminating in a brilliant account of his venture to Tokyo in order to quit smoking, David Sedaris's sixth essay collection is a masterpiece of comic writing.

"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

"Sedaris's best stuff will still--after all this time--move, surprise, and entertain." --Booklist

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316154687
• ISBN13: 9780316154680
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: Little, Brown Paperbacks
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

It's Worth Your Time

Sedaris' latest, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, is funny, tender, honest, sobering, introspective, heartwarming, lovely, entertaining, and absolutely hysterical. Either you'll love him or you just won't get him, in which case you're probably better off with that copy of the Physician's Desk Reference you found in the dumpster behind your chiropractor's office.

Very entertaining

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was witty and entertaining and also infused with some interesting and important life lessons. This was my first Sedaris book and I'm excited to read the rest. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something interesting and funny to read.

Sedaris - Equal and opposite of Chicken Soup

I was introduced to David Sedaris when a relative of mine was in a coma for 5 months. I was told that someone was coming to the hospital, sitting beside the bed and reading from the "Chicken Soup" series of books. I was horrified as I'd been told that a person in a coma can still hear and I couldn't fathom the torture my loved one must be in - unable to move or communicate and being subjected to a torture akin to mental water boarding. Immediately I put the word out for some other essay series that could be read to him that would nullify the damage being done by this well intentioned person. David Sedaris was suggested several times and this is how I met him (literarily speaking). I have "Engulfed" in the audio version that's read by the author. My favorites from Sedaris are always when he relates tales about his boyhood and goofy family. There's plenty to be found here. In this compilation I found the new bike essay interesting, the crotchety lady neighbor hilarious, but the whole smoking cessation portion was so close to home that it was a bit unnerving. He went to Japan, I went to Mexico. It worked for him, not for me... I highly recomend this book - you can never go wrong with Sedaris (even if your in a coma)...bg

Everyone but my mom should read this book!

I have been waiting for a new David Sedaris book for a long time. I read the entire book yesterday afternoon and I could not stop laughing. His descriptions, dialogue, and demented details are uniquely Sedaris. This book did not disappoint; I knew what I was getting into the moment I read through the table of contents. Some critics are saying that there is nothing new here, blah, blah, blah. What do they want from a David Sedaris book? Romance? Epic Adventure? YA Fiction? I am a huge fan of Mr. Sedaris (David, not Lou), and his essays on his life leave me laughing. The section on smoking was not only funny, but very truthful. I could taste the menthol while reading. Very descriptive-very hilarious! Thank you David Sedaris.