Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide
David Sedaris

David Sedaris Reading Order

6 series · 34 books · Born 1956-12-26

Non-FictionYoung Adult

David Sedaris is an American humorist and author best known for his witty, deeply personal essay collections that blur the line between memoir and comedy. His work spans humorous autobiographical narratives, children's books, and curated anthologies, all marked by his distinctive voice that finds absurdity and pathos in everyday life. A prolific writer since the early 1990s, Sedaris has built a career on candid storytelling that resonates with readers seeking both laughs and genuine human insight.

Anthologies Series

Complete

12 books (2001–2014)

Start with Strange Stories for Strange Kids, the first of 12 books in the Anthologies series.

Start this series with Strange Stories for Strange Kids

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Strange Stories for Strange Kids
Strange Stories for Strange Kids
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
40 Model Essays
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules
Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Scoot Over, Skinny: The Fat Nonfiction Anthology
Scoot Over, Skinny: The Fat Nonfiction Anthology
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Best American Essays 2005
The Best American Essays 2005
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of Big Fat Little Lit
Big Fat Little Lit
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of The Best American Erotica 2006
The Best American Erotica 2006
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Touchstone Anthology of Contemporary Creative Nonfiction
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of NPR Holiday Favorites
NPR Holiday Favorites
2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Flight Patterns: A Century of Stories about Flying
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of My Ideal Bookshelf
My Ideal Bookshelf
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of By the Book

Children's Series

Complete

1 book (2001–2001)

#Title
1
Pretty Ugly(With: Ian Falconer)
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Diaries Series

Likely Complete

2 books (2015–2021)

Start with Theft by Finding and read in order.

Start this series with Theft by Finding

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Theft by Finding
Theft by Finding
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of A Carnival of Snackery: Diaries 2003-2020
A Carnival of Snackery: Diaries 2003-2020
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Non-Fiction Series

Ongoing

6 books (2013–2026)

Start with Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, the first of 6 books in the Non-Fiction series.

Start this series with Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of David Sedaris Diaries
David Sedaris Diaries
2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Calypso
4
Themes and Variations
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of Happy-Go-Lucky
Happy-Go-Lucky
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Land and its People
The Land and its People
2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

11 books (1992–2020)

Start with Origins Of The Underclass, the first of 11 books in the Short Story Collections series.

Start this series with Origins Of The Underclass

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Origins Of The Underclass
Origins Of The Underclass
1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Barrel Fever
Barrel Fever
1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Holidays on Ice
Holidays on Ice
1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Naked
5
Cover of Me Talk Pretty One Day
Me Talk Pretty One Day
2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
David Sedaris: Live at Carnegie Hall
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Barrel Fever and Other Stories
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of When You Are Engulfed in Flames
When You Are Engulfed in Flames
2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of The Best of Me
The Best of Me
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Plays Series

Complete

2 books (1998–2002)

Start with The SantaLand Diaries and Season's Greetings and read in order.

Start this series with The SantaLand Diaries and Season's Greetings

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The SantaLand Diaries and Season's Greetings
The SantaLand Diaries and Season's Greetings
1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Book of Liz - Acting Edition
The Book of Liz - Acting Edition
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has David Sedaris written?
David Sedaris has written 34 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 1992 to 2026.
What is the first book in each David Sedaris series?
Here are the first books in David Sedaris's series: Anthologies: Strange Stories for Strange Kids; Diaries: Theft by Finding; Non-Fiction: Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls; Short Story Collections: Origins Of The Underclass; Standalone Plays: The SantaLand Diaries and Season's Greetings.
What order should I read David Sedaris's books?
We recommend reading David Sedaris's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is David Sedaris still writing new books?
Yes, David Sedaris has 1 ongoing series: Non-Fiction.

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