Naked

People will think your crazy as you laugh out loud to the book of short stories by Sedaris . I read the book on vacation at the jersey shore and I couldn't put the book down, whether I was by the pool or at the beach; I had to have it with me at all times.
This book would be worth it if it only had 2 stories in it, those being C.O.G and Naked. though funny as hell, this book isn't easy on Sedaris's family or for himself for that matter. he lays all on the line in a book no one should pass up.

David Sedaris proves that the spazziest of kids can grow up and produce great writing. He is so smart, but it took him many years of effing up to finally figure out what he was good at. Once he figured it out, he has produced a number of very funny, very human, very wonderful books. He makes me laugh and cry and remember my own childhood. I am so glad to see a writer get recognized who isn't some snarky blogging gen x'er. This may not be his funniest book, but it is a great one.

If you've ever heard David Sedaris on "This American Life" you know his thought provoking and funny style. The book is no exception. It's part hitch-hiking story, part growing up drama and part employment memoir. The sum of the stories add up to touching and emotional portraits of growing up in America. In short, many of us have had the same experiences.
The final chapter on visiting a "Nudist Camp" is truly brilliant. I couldn't stop thinking about it for weeks. If you grew up in America or would like to know what it's like to have done so read this book.

Naked made me laugh out loud in public places.
The raw humor and well written prose take the reader through a variety (and I do mean broad variety) of Sedaris' "life experiences." He has the ability to tell of events that were personally painful in a way that has you in stiches...not laughing at the experience, but with the author who sees the humor in the pain after the event has passed.
As the author of Aha! - 10 Ways To Free Your Creative Spirit and Find Your Great Ideas, I believe that humor and life experience are keys to creative inspiration. Read Naked, and be inspired by the humor of this excellent author.

A few years ago someone rather famous said that it is the duty of art to reflect society. That, for better or for worse, it is the duty of the artist (painter, writer, poet, etc) to portray in their art the condition of their society. More on this later.

Naked. In reading Naked I found a window, a portal, that once looked through shed a little light into the world of Mr. Sedaris; his friends, his family, and his quest of understanding of both himself and the society in which he lives. Some of the stories were met with a chuckle and some of the stories were met with more of a 'hmmmm.' It was a good, quick read. One that dutifully passed the few hours in which it took to read. And, once finished, I placed it upon my bookshelf where it quickly, and expectantly faded from memory.

Now, in writing this review, I am forced to think back to what I have read and come up with with something to say. But I have nothing. As there is nothing. If am forced, the best I could say is that the book is full of well-written essays on life. And it is. But there is nothing special or outstanding, nothing to learn from them, and certainly nothing to pull from to make us a better person, nothing to give us any insight into the human condition.

In reading this book, I realized something. And this goes back to my first paragraph. In writing this book, (and I am to assume this other books are the same), Mr. Sedaris has perfectly reflected the society in which he lives. A dull, self-centered society in which people are more apt to look outward toward the suffering and humiliation of others instead of looking within. Naked perfectly encapsulates the current state of the American condition. A condition in which each night we gather round the television to watch the love life of a perfect stranger, and then, coffee and donuts in hand, we gather round the water cooler the next morning to discuss and second guess that stranger's decisions. Quietly telling ourselves that if we were in that same situation, we would've done things differently...

Naked, like so many other semi-fictional memoirs that are being churned out these days, allows us to take our eyes and minds off of ourselves and look at, smile at, and ridicule the lives and the decision of others. And I can think of nothing more telling of current American society than that.

Mr. Sedaris is neither genius, nor master essayist has, whether he had planned it or not, succeeded in reflecting the society in which he lives; shallow, self, and presumably sex-obsessed society who takes pleasure in the misfortunes of others. Overall, an admirable, if not disheartening (and marketable) feat.

Two Stars.

first book i've read by sedaris though i've heard him any number of times on 'this american life' podcasts. a witty writer, sometimes biting, sometimes touching. i appreciate his authenticity; it permeates every story. as expected, some of his stories resonated more than others. but overall, i'd recommend to people who don't mind some sarcastic irreverence.

This is a collection of seventeen autobiographical stories by David Sedaris. The book recounts his earlier life, his interactions with his family, and his time in places like a nudist camp, a factory and a few hitchiking trips.

To say his accounts are simply amusing is far to weak an assertion. The situations, though usually extreme, are not utterly unrelatable to. I worked in a factory and could easily relate to his descriptions of the droning machines and the job with no end in sight. But his descriptions are so apt and clever that I could easily place myself with his paraplegic roommate or in the car when the person who picked him up stopped for a few drinks at a local bar.

But my favorite parts are when he looks back at his childhood. His analysis of his parents when they delt with his nervous ticks. The way he makes his obsessive compultion to lick things seem the most natural thing in the world and the way he describes the way simply rocking in his bed almost made me want to try it out.

I read Me Talk Pretty One Day before this and I was a little dissapointed that there weren't any other stories about france in here but that is probably the only thing that irked me.

Story telling is an art, and it seems like David Sedaris has mastered it in his book "Naked". A very amusing book that delivers the most interesting experiences in a very exciting and honest way.

It is a wonderful book to read, one of those that you would enjoy on a holiday and have a hard time putting down. It is simple, entertaining, and has in it a lot of charm.

I am very encouraged by David Sedaris writing, I am totally on for getting another book of his.

On many occasions, I had to put NAKED down, gasp for air and wipe my eyes as mascara dripped onto my shirt. One of the funniest books I have ever read. I was calling friends to read snippets of prose to them over the phone; the trouble was, I couldn't stop laughing long enough to complete the sentences. Sedaris has hit, no, SMASHED the nail on the head with his assorted musings about everyday life in end-of-the-road towns with whacked-out inhabitants. Nothing is sacred. It's delicious

I read this book by accident - I thought it was another book someone told me about. It was the best mistake I ever made. I've since passed the book onto at least ten other people and all have said the same. First, "thank you, thank you, thank you" and then how they literally laughed out loud. Next they begin regaling me with excerpts from the chapter they're currently reading. NOT SAD or Depressing, those people just "didn't get it". It's called hyperbole for comic effect. DUH -

When I first set out on this project to review an established writer's work, it was difficult deciding which author's work I was going to dissect. After skimming through several novels' introductions, I chose to review Naked written by the overly dramatic and hilarious David Sedaris. Since I had already read some of David's literature, I knew that I would enjoy this eclectic autobiography. The first thing that attracted me to this book was the name itself; Naked. Was David an established nudist whose life, he thought, in itself a good story? Was he revealing how society was impacted by the human body? In this review, I am going to try to decipher why David titled this book Naked. After reading through the collection of essays, I'm first going to break down what Naked initially meant to me.
Naked is a collection of essays that describe memorable bits and pieces of the author, David's, life. Although some readers may not enjoy his attention to detail, I found that it was his detail that allowed us, the reader a glimpse into whom David Sedaris was and is. He revealed his inner thoughts in various situations. When he was a child, David had many nervous habits that he would have to carry out to make himself feel comfortable. In the 2nd chapter, A Plague of Tics, David, in great detail, goes through a day in his life including the walk home from school where he finds it necessary, not only to count his foot steps, but to lick, jump over, kick and read various objects on his way home. The way in which he describes these events it is as though there is absolutely nothing wrong with his behavior and that it is completely normal.
His abnormal, deranged family is brought into the novel in the first chapter but we don't really get to know them until the end of the collection of essays. With each "episode" or essay that I read, I got to know David better. While reading through the novel I was waiting for a deciding moment in which the title would clearly have relevance to the sum of the essays. In the final chapter, David decides to go on vacation to a nudist camp. I had thought for sure since this essay was titled Naked that it would have tied all the essays together to make sense of the books title. On a planned vacation from New York City, David rents the front room from a trailer, yes a trailer, and travels by bus, since he can't drive, to a nudist camp. From the moment he arrives, he is unsure of his willingness to be there. Although this chapter was significant, there were many other chapters that I believed held more significance to the collection.
So why was the book titled Naked? Throughout the beginning of the collection of essays, I was very curious of his sexual orientation. As a child, through his descriptions of daily activities, I knew that he was different. He hinted that he was homosexual but it wasn't until the end of the essays that he openly stated that he was attracted to men. As well as David having a gut-wrenching satirical humor, he also possesses a realistic view of the world that he doesn't hold back. Through dialogue with dozens of insignificant figures in the book, I got a real sense of how David viewed the world. It wasn't necessarily the words that he spoke, but it was the thoughts that he had when he spoke to these characters. Allowing the reader in on very memorable thoughts meant revealing himself. I came to the conclusion that this was why the book was titled Naked. It wasn't the fact that David was, for a short week, a nudist. It also wasn't titled Naked because of his views of how the world viewed the human body. It was because of David's revelations. Throughout all his adventures, he had allowed the reader to know his deepest thoughts. When his mother died, when he discovered God, when he traveled across the country and when he realized he was different, he had revealed his true self in his literature. This collection of essays was a release of all his inner thoughts and dialogue. After revealing so much, David truly, must have felt Naked.

naked was my first David Sedaris experience. A friend recommended it and I am so glad he did. Sedaris is a brilliant writer and can turn any mundane situation into a hilarious event. There is a chapter devoted to his "ticks" ... meaning his impulsive desire to lick a light switch or touch certain things. I was reading that chapter while sipping coffee at the Pancake House and I started laughing out loud! He has a lifelong fan in me.

After living vicariously through Sedaris while reading this book I feel pretty maxed out in the odd encounters department. This book has strong moments indeed, especially when Sedaris is concocting piercing one-liners which he, of course, is too scared to speak out loud. It sags, too, as I guess too much of all-things wacky can get a little overbearing. As to whether these events are "largely true," that is to be decided. But I think what makes "Naked" work is that Sedaris uses such a gifted storytelling device. We all have tales to tell---it's just a matter of how we choose to tell them. I'm sure we hear off-the-wall comments and see some strange happenings every day. But the time we take to really pay attention and immerse ourselves in that world is too little to realize a story lurks within. Sedaris seems to rely on these subtle moments, which he then amplifies---and does, in the end, get some laughs.

Sedaris writes an extremely entertaining depiction of his family and personal life, mellowing the disturbing and depressing episodes with his incredible wit and sarcasm. At the end of each essay, however, he returns from the inane charicatures he creates of family and friends with a more serious reflection of the life lessons he gained or wanted to teach us. How do you explain it to people who haven't read it without ruining the story?

r3ad t3h b00k!

This is a great book worthy of such greats such as Jack Kerouack (pardon my spelling). I couldn't put this book down. You'll be sure to laugh at many of the characters, including the author himself (if you don't at his quirky OCD habits, then something is wrong). Then, after you put the book down, you wonder if you should have been laughing at all; there's something deep in each chapter, it's the light writing that makes it a smooth read, though. A perfect combination

I used to love Sedaris. I loved 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' and loved the articles he wrote for the 'New Yorker.' Unfortunately, over time, I would argue he has traded in his natural penchant to make insightful and witty comments about everything for the type of shock value writing that has been gaining popularity in the memoir genre (much like Borroughs and Eggers). In 'Naked,' Sedaris seems to have abandoned the type of subtle commentary that causes us as readers to laugh out loud and turned to using only the outrageousness of the given situation or anecdote to win us over. His treks through the United States and stories of his father's useless advice just don't sparkle the way his previous writing does. The only strong essay is the last one, 'Naked' where he delves into his one week at a nudist colony. I long for the days when memoir writing was humorous in a subtle manner, instead of using absurdist plots and life stories to get me interested. Pass on this and read his older work.

I first heard David Sedaris on public radio reading "The Santaland Diaries". I nearly ran off the road laughing so hard, and then went around trying to explain to friends and family exactly how funny it is to hear a grown man imitate Billie Holiday. Everyone gave me a perplexed look and an answer that implied that I had the stupidest sense of humor around. A couple years have passed and now the very same people and grabbing me and saying, "You have to read this book by David Sedaris...." Well, they're right. It's hilarious. And I finally feel like I can participate in the conversations at parties.

I read Barrel Fever four years ago and that was one of the few books that kept me laughing out loud. Therefore my expectations of Naked were very high. In his shorter stories, especially "Plague of Ticks","Cyclops" and "The Drama Bug", Sedaris' hilarious voice and knack for extending a joke past its initial impact through to an inevitably outrageous conclusion very much keeps to the style successfully employed in Barrel Fever.
What surprised and delighted me about Naked were Sedaris' more serious and honestly introspective stories, such as "I Like Guys," "Planet of the Apes" and "C.O.G." There is no denying that Sedaris' humourous, barb-tinged writing is more airtight and solid than his serious stuff, but each of these stories proved in some way that he has something to say even when restrained and overtly searching for meaning. Particularly evocative was the penultimate story "Ashes," the last sentence of which expressed as much sublime tragedy as a million mock-psychology paperbacks could ever hope to communicate.
Ironically, the title story, "Naked," was by far the weakest, and I believe that it is because the story is too clearly an autobiographical sketch, and thus the details and experiences are too believable to be interesting. Sedaris is undoubtedly trying to show us how grotesque a snapshot of life can be without a satirical retouching, but the reason we read great humourists and absurdists is precisely for the retouching: life's grotesqueness has become too commonplace. We need writers like Sedaris to remind us of the implications.

"Barrel Fever," Sedaris' first book, is original, daring, hysterically funny, and very queer. In "Naked," Sedaris has succumbed to an ailment common to humorists who've written one good book. Known in some circles as "Woody's Disease," the writer, having achieved some acclaim, imagines that readers should find windy diary accounts of his very ordinary personal experiences funny. Naked barely rises to amusing, much less funny. The savage queerness that gave the first book it's best lines has evaporated into vapid middle-class air. Don't be a codependent. You'd get more laughs out of a fifth reading of Barrel Fever than the first reading of this nakedly commercial offering.

I finished NAKED by David Sadaris and have to say that I am neutral about this book. It was amusing but I had a hard time with all the 'craziness' that he has experienced. Can one person really meet that many odd people in one lifetime? I realize that as a writer and a humorist he was able to take some liberties but this was supposed to be a recounting of his life up until now. Also thru the whole book he talked past tense but the last chapter entitled 'naked' talked in the present tense which I found bothered me because it seemed kind of random although I suppose at the time maybe he was writing it right then. One more thing was the way he skipped around and didn't just follow one pattern from age to age but went to his childhood and then to an adult and then back to teenager etc. It made it kind of hard to follow at times. I would have preferred to listen to this book opposed to reading it. It might be better understood in the authors own voice.

Sedaris' is the only Author that makes me laugh out loud while reading. There have been author's before him that have made me laugh internally, but I've never actually had to put a book down and laugh like I did in Sedari's "Naked".

From the opening chapter where Sedaris expresses his desperation to be born rich, to the later chapters where we learn of his wild eccentricities and cysnistic view of the world, Sedaris keeps us rolling on the floor.

The thing that impresses me so much about Sedaris is his ability to dive deeper into normal life than others. His observant, meticulous nature shows through in the intricate humorous details he finds in seemingly normal situations. Where we might see a walk home from the bus stop, Sedaris sees an opportunity to lick lawn ornaments and open doors with only his elbows. It doesn't hurt that his family, who play a major role in the book, are almost as insanely brilliant as he is.

Overall I think the book succeeds on countless levels. Using dark comedy to play off some of the more uncomfortabl (yet important) aspects of modern American society, Sedaris presents us with a hilarious yet scary understanding of the world we live in. Keep writing David, we will keep reading!

The best part of this collection of essays is the first half, the ones covering his childhood. They're funny in an offbeat and skewed way, and are easy to breeze through. Once Mr. Sedaris starts talking about his hitchhiking travels, the comedy subsides quite a bit. His last essay, Naked, was hard to get through; he tries to end with a triumphant message, but it falls flat. If you've heard him on PBS or seen The Santaland Diaries, you'll like this.

I know it sounds cliche but it is true. You cannot read this book without laughing hysterically. Don't try and read this book while your spouse is trying to sleep next to you. Sedaris' essays are funny and thought-provoking as he takes you through his early life.
If you liked Running With Scissors, this book will appeal to you. And in the essay format you can read snipets and still enjoy without feeling the need to get it all read one blast.

My roommate would love David Sedaris's particular brand of humor. I won't know this for sure-at least not anytime soon-because he won't read what others would like him to read (book clubs are anathema). Actually, everyone I know likes Sedaris's brand of humor. I've enjoyed my share of NPR Morning Edition and This American Life spots myself. But I can't say that I entirely enjoyed Naked.

Why? The first story, "Chipped Beef" pulled me in immediately, delighted with the power of the young David's imagination, entranced by the unique difficulties he faced as a child, and I laughed a lot. Again, I ask myself, Why did I laugh so much? Well, Sedaris seems to have a knack for describing people who are incredibly familiar and in so doing bring to the forefront their fears and weaknesses and personal oddities. So there are, scattered across the pages, a whole bunch of ordinary people with strange ideas or habits or prejudices exposed.

I think the title for the book is a good one. Not just because it describes what I see as the best story in the book, but because there's a whole lot of exposure going on in the stories. We see people being guided by all sorts of crazy ideas, and as David tells the story in the contexts he sets up, he shows just how crazy their ideas may be. By crazy I think I mean anti-productive, self destructive behavior. Like the man who created jade clocks in the shape of Oregon, fervently worshipping God while being a real ass to David, who was essentially providing free labor for the guy.

But by about the time I got to "Dinah, the Christmas Whore," I realized I wasn't enjoying the book anymore. I found it depressing because everyone just seemed so ridiculous. That's why I think my roommate would like the book. (though we'll never know) He's an existentialist (though he resists labels) who frequently assumes a Camusian posture saying things like "because the universe has no inherent meaning other than what we bring to it, it in its naked state is essentially meaningless." "everything is absurd because nothing is innately meaningful. therefore, it's all worthy of being poked fun at."

The Platonist in me searches for meaning, for edification in this book-any book really. Why should I read this? What can I learn from this? I was reading the book while standing in line at La Mancha Blanca, when a woman, who I later learned was named Kim, told me it was a wonderful book. So funny! She said. Yes, I said, but it's getting difficult for me. Depressing, really. She said, yes-the bit about losing his mother and all, but he comes at it all from such a higher place.

That was shocking to me really. She was sucked back into another conversation before I got to explore what she meant (or maybe I just didn't want to), but I did think about it later. It then occurred to me what the rest of the planet probably knows by the time they learn to tie their shoes-humor does come from a higher place. David Sedaris suffered a lot in his life. And he continues to suffer. And yet he puts it all into a context in which he and his cohorts are absurd. And so we can laugh. And from the laughter we draw strength. That is higher thinking. Do I want to be like David Sedaris? Is he my hero? Mid-way through the book I would've said no way. He's getting pushed around by life-he's essentially a weak character, not a strong one. He is pushed around by life; he simply reports it in a way that makes people laugh. He gets a charge out of diminishing others.

But now I think maybe he is a hero of mine. He's my hero for not rising above human folly-which is everywhere. He rises above it to laugh and to inspire others to laugh. He exposes us for all our absurdities and we laugh. We laugh even when it's all too real and we'd just as soon cry. Why? Because it's really all coming from the same place. But there is tremendous strength in laughter. David Sedaris's breed of laughter sponsors love for humankind, and it sponsors strength. Maybe somehow David Sedaris has joined forces between Plato and Camus.

Will I read other works by David Sedaris? Yes, I believe I will. I believe I will read his stories to remember the strength of laughter. But perhaps more importantly I think I would like to develop a bit of a Sedaris eye-a way of looking at people and situations with a very honest sense of their absurdity, and then love what I find instead of judging it. I'd like to learn how to embrace the absurd. I think Sedaris is my hero in that.

"For the first time in what felt like years, I saw stockings and handbags. Bodies, fat and thin, were packed into slacks and pleated skirts. Every outfit resembled a costume designed to reveal the aspirations of the wearer. The young man on the curb would like to make the first Olympic skateboarding team. The girl in the plastic skirt longs to live in a larger town. I found myself looking at these people and thinking, I know what you look like naked. I can tell by your ankles and the tightness of your belt. The flush of your face, the hair sprouting from your collar; the way your shirts hang off those bony hips: you can't hide it from me."

Naked, p. 291

And it's true-it doesn't seem like anyone can hide much of anything from David Sedaris. Everyone, every situation is exposed. He has the gift, or has exercised the patience to acquire the talent, of really seeing people. Another great mark of a higher state-awareness. But perhaps another reason the book began to wear on me was because of the down side of having that gift:

"The glasses, when worn, gave me the look of someone both enthused and exhausted by what he saw. They suggested the manic weariness inherent in their promise, capturing the moment when the sheen wears off and your newfound gift becomes something more closely resembling a burden."

Naked, p. 291

He offers his vision and bears his burden with marvelously good humor. No, he may not have the wisdom to uplift endless generations of humanity, but he does provide a model for seeing and a tool for aquiring strength.

Yes, David Sedaris, today you are my hero.

After the first two chapters of this book, I thought, wow, this is hilarious! Unfortunately, after that the humor died down, in my opinion.

I appreciated the unique stories that Sedaris had to share, they made this book worthwhile. However, a lot of his humor just plain fell short on me. I also struggled to understand his reasoning for writing this book, for piecing these stories together as he did, and what exactly was his "point"?

I can see from the other reviews I'm in the minority here. Even my sister who recommended this book, is a huge fan. But for me, while it was an average read, I don't think Sedaris is an author for me. I am not in the least bit interested in picking up another book of his.

Don't ask, don't tell should be the subtitle. Don't ask what it's about (everything? nothing?) and don't tell him, Sedaris, that he's a genius because I have the sneaking suspicion that his wit comes from a place rooted in childhood insecurity. The more confused, lost, and misunderstood he is, the funnier the essay. This is the best collection of essays I have ever read. Period. Laugh out loud, kick my partner at 3:00AM to read aloud a passage, call all my friends funny.

I'd heard his name spoken on NPR and, for several years, after hearing people speak about him, I began to wonder "Who is this David Sedaris guy and why are people talking about him?". So finally, last week, I bought "Naked", and the evening I finished it, because it was so much fun to read and desiring more but lacking an immediate source for fresh material, I turned back to page one and began to read it again. Like riding a great roller coaster, or eating chocolate cake, it was just as great a thrill the second time around.

"Naked" is one of the most charmingly wicked collections of stories. Well-traveled and broadly experienced, Sedaris is a seemingly casual, but actually keen, observer who possesses a rare ability to find humor in the behavior of the most annoying person and in the circumstances of the most aggravating situation, and to pass it along to his reader.

I had to laugh with delight at the author's description of his mother, obviously his mentor (and perhaps, muse), and how her sardonically wry and biting wit permeated every facet of his family's life, and how, her resolve to not kill her offspring buttressed with a bottle of booze and pack of smokes, she fought to maintain a bit of sanity in an insane world populated by six unsympathetic kids and one very peculiar husband. Sedaris is a Greek name, and his first generation Greek-American father and his family was a treasure chest of gem-quality quirks waiting to be plundered. Sedaris' recollections of his ludicrously redneck brother and their flamboyantly off-kilter sisters, Amy and Lisa, are like items of priceless value, filling the book's cavernous vault of humor. His family, and also complete strangers, form a deep and seemingly endless vein of fabulously funny material which the author successfully mines to the great benefit of the reader.

Sedaris doesn't only make fun of others. With honest ease, he reveals his own vulnerability and foibles. Occasionally tenative, but fearless, he takes a very funny look at the role his sexual orientation plays in his life, just as he examines the manner in which others relate to him. With a refreshing irreverence for traditional comedic literary convention, and with great gusto, he stripmines the strata of his accumulated experiences and gives the reader privileged insight into his life, all the while unabashedly poking fun at himself to wonderously funny effect. By doing so, Sedaris enables readers how to lighten up and find humor in the mundane experiences of their own lives.

If you love absurd and irreverant humor, you will relish every minute spent reading this book. Finishing it, you will feel as if your best friend has just moved away - a bit sad but craving an immediate reunion. Like squeezing the juice out of a spent grapefruit half to ensure you don't miss a drop of pleasure, you will try to milk the book for every laugh, and turning back, read your favorite parts again. I rarely laugh out loud when reading, and I don't know if it was just my new medication, but reading Sedaris' work caused me to laugh out loud and made me want to share my experience with whomever is nearby.

After finishing "Naked" I hurried to buy "Me Talk Pretty...", I just ordered everything that Sedaris has written or on which he has collaborated, and impatiently await publication of his next book, because now I know who this David Sedaris guy is.

This book had me desperately trying to stifle laughs on my bus commute. David Sedaris is a true genius. The amazing thing is that he writes in a very simple style, but his observations are so keen and so wry--and his perspective so interesting--that the simplest everyday event becomes comic genius in his hands. The chapters True Detective, Drama Bug (especially), and I Like Guys were highlights. I LOVED this book! Don't miss out!!!

Because it's been over a year since I read "Me Talk Pretty One Day", I'm not completely sure of this, but I think I liked "Naked" even more. There is a lot of laugh-out-loud stuff here, at least for me, juxtaposed with all kinds of crazy and
serious things that happened to David. I think he's lucky to be alive, given several events explained in this book. If you liked "Me Talk Pretty...", this is definitely another one you should read.

Naked starts off so strong that I thought it would end up being Sedaris' funniest book to date. Unfortunately, the last two stories ended up being a bit long winded and somewhat dullish sort of drving on the autobahn and coming to a sputtering start. Still, that should not detract you from the odd Sedaris' tales of him and his family. His youthful fantasy pretesiousness, his wisecracking mother who imitates him to his teachers, his crackpot father and whacky siblings which included four sisters and a loose cannon of a brother nicknamed "the rooster."

This was the first David Sedaris book that I ever read, and it still makes me laugh every time I read it. This one includes a lot about his childhood and family, which I think make up his best stories. This one also has a more serious side than some of his others. I really enjoyed it and I am anxious for a new book to be released! I know he is working on one, so I hope the wait isn't too much longer!

Very quickly, this book has become one of my favorites. All at once poignant, touching and screamingly funny, David Sedaris has done a wonderful job of creating a memoir that's worth reading. Sedaris is perhaps one of the greatest American humorists living today, and his stories here are not only funny, but also touching and endearing, as well. Sedaris has won a special place in the upper echelon of my favorite writers.

This book is not strictly an autobiography, but rather a compilation of life stories that are not necessarily funny.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book, but I am surprised that it is marketed and reviewed as some kind of humorous gay memoir. Although some stories were very entertaining, I finished the book with a sense of sadness. It is hard to take it as a comedic book when you are basically presented with a life of a loser (at least that what it seemed to me) who does not only have OCD, but takes drugs, almost gets raped, and lacks total general direction in life.

Having said that, it is a very well written book which reminded me in style Salinger's works.

David's Greek. I'm Greek. And we both grew up in strange worlds as Naked's opening essays prove.
Still, you don't have to be part of the Greek club. What's not funny about an old grandmother picking through the neighbors bird-feeder? How can we not be sympathetic and sickened by Sedaris' childhood ticks and compulsions? I won't give away any more, except that this is better than "Me Talk Pretty One Day."

I began reading David Sedaris a while ago after hearing him on NPR and I gave this book to a friend after reading it. Sedaris is undoubtedly a humourist...but what bothers me about his fans who rant and rave about how "funny" he is, is that they never mention his profound sentimentalism, the touching undercurrents of melancholy in his books: he will make you laugh, but he will also make you cry. I found myself underlining certain phrases in this book because some of them are simply beautiful pieces of writing...some of them are valuable / prophetic insights about life. Sedaris is a masterful observer who is a cynic but he also has tremendous heart.

Brilliantly hilarious, carefully crafted, beautifully expressive! Thumbs up for David Sedaris' Naked.

From the very first pages, Sedaris launches into a very individual style which he maintains throughout the book. Recounting personal stories and memories, Sedaris takes stabs at every member of his family, and anyone else he's had the fortune (or misfortune) to come in contact with. Addressing topics many wouldn't dare with a witty note and a laughable slant.

Sedaris stabs unabashedly at the American economy, issues of race, sexuality, gender, immigration, education, parenting, holidays, religion, and anything else he can possibly get his hands on. And he does it in a way that has you laughing from cover to cover. Sedaris' is a very real humor: To the point, and unrestricted.

The book itself seems to have very little linear motion. Each story contained within its own moment in time, wrapped up nicely into a complete, ever humerous chapter. Once started, it's nearly impossible to put down before finishing. A great read for anyone!

Okay, so everyone has mixed feelings about David Sedaris' work. True. I don't consider every essay "humorous". They can be alarming, even distressing. His stories contain characters that don't act in a manner you would think. And that's the humor. Portraits of his mother as a sarcastic one-liner comedienne (see "A Plague of Tics", "Dinah, the Christmas Whore") are very funny.
Painting a strange canvass of bizarre "americana" throughout, I do find that I tend to like essays I have heard him read through NPR's "This American Life". Reading "I Like Guys" and "Drama Bug" just doesn't do the work justice. Listening to Sedaris' nervous, femmy-intellectual voice puts that humor in it that makes me just laugh out loud.
I've read all the David Sedaris books --- from "Barrel Fever" to "Me Talk Pretty One Day", and I must say that "Me Talk Pretty One Day" could possibly be the most palatable book yet for those of you who disdain "Naked", or are weirded-out by "Barrel Fever."
And, as a current employee of Macy's (albeit the western division), I find that "The SantaLand Diaries" (from either "Barrel Fever" or "Holidays on Ice") is by far the most humorous, either reading it or hearing him recite it.
For Sedars' spoken essay, "Drama Bug" and other essays by similarly hilarious writers, a good compilation to try is "This American Life" CD, also available here at the store!

My boss gave me David Sedaris' book, "Naked," as a christmas present. In hindsight, I wonder what he was trying to tell me? Because David is one sick puppy! He's sick in a "good" way, though. The things Sedaris writes about are the kinds of things we all feel yet are often afraid to express less the "PC Gestapo" nab us, or people think we are truly demented. We can all live vicariously through Sedaris. The variety of the essays is outstanding. From joy, to self-loathing, to frivolous, to scary, to downright touching...each chapter has something different in store for the reader. The common thread is the self-effacing humor. I found myself alone, laughing out loud as grandmother Ya-Ya embarassed David and his siblings by crawling up the aisle during mass at his Greek Orthodox church. When David's father traumatizes him forever when it comes to using power tools in "Cyclops," I made my girlfriend read the chapter before continuing o! n. I wanted everyone around me to enjoy the book as much as I did. Sedaris is honest - brutally honest - about his dysfunctional family, but that's what makes the humor and the essays all the more appealing; we can all relate to them.

Sedaris' Naked is a quick, enjoyable read. The honesty and incisiveness he uses to portray his family members is excellent, although the accompanying cruelness from such honesty can be off-putting. Some of his essays, such as c.o.g., about his experiences as an apple-picker and then an Oregon-shaped clock maker's assistant who declares Sedaris to be a 'child of god' are both hilarious and incisive. However, other essays, while humorous, are largely forgettable. Looking back through the book I found essays that I barely remembered even though I had read them only days before. Sure, they were funny at the time, but a lot of them lack impact. However, when Sedaris is on, he is on, and some of his stories, such as his description of his grandmother, Ya-Ya, his attempt at being a childhood detective to clear his name, and his visit to a nudist colony, are both funny and memorable. It's these kind of essays that make the book really worth reading.

I hoped this book would improve. It did not. It is sophomoric drivel. Sad that Mr. Sedaris wasted his time on this, instead of using his great talent to write something that would inspire, inform, motivate, or move the reader.

Each little story is another slice of a life in a ugly, bitter, funny cynical world. They are seperate stories about the same guy, addressed to the reader as if you were inside his quirky little head. He only occasionaly falls into cliche. The narratives are short enough to keep one moving swiftly, eager for another taste of Sedaris's screwy mouthfuls of monologue.

A warning about not reading NAKED while eating, operating machinery, or travelling in large groups should appear on the book's back. It is impossible to get through a single page, let alone the entire book, with out laughing out loud. And I don't mean the kind of laughter that accompanies something funny; I mean the kind of laughter that accompanies something that is undeniable truth. David Sedaris is a master satirist, a comedic magician whose spells are always slightly off-kilter, and irresistably warped. Always irreverent, and always dead on-target, NAKED manages to capture everything that constitutes perilous modern living and turns it into pure, often deliciously nasty, cathartic gold. I for one, read on with delight as Mr. Sedaris managed to put the "fun" back in dysfunctional. Pure brilliance. I bow before this twisted witty genius.

I'll admit that I tucked into Mr. Sedaris' work with no small amount of anticipation. I assume many of his readers -- like myself -- first made his acquaintance by hearing him on public radio's `This American Life.' Since he is an uncommonly witty storyteller, so it should follow he would be a fine writer, yes?

Or perhaps not. Judging from `Naked' -- his latest and highest praised work -- I have to withhold praise, or at least judgment. Unlike so many other books of poignant, self-revealing essays, `Naked' did not have me laughing out loud (much); rather, I was often wincing, and waiting for conflicts and resolutions that seemed deliberately withheld. The author is a fine storyteller; this talent shines on radio and occasionally in these pieces. But he is an uneven writer at best. For my money his main faults are a celebration of victimhood (self-admitted, from his recent interviews) and a near complete lack of empathy for most of his subjects.

Since every story here is written in first person and Sedaris freely admits they're largely based on fact, we get a very clear look at his life, his family, his feelings toward the world, and what experiences have shaped his worldview. It's not a pretty sight. In almost every account, Sedaris is being attacked, abused, set up, abandoned, or generally treated as an outcast. He almost seems to revel in this negativity, even seeks it out by telling stories of returning to effective slave labor at a nightmarish apple farm, helping a deranged Christian sell jade clocks in the shape of the state of Oregon, or visiting a nudist colony. He is rightly praised for being unsentimental; trouble is, drained of sentiment -- most of this material would make great horror stories -- we're left with little but an unappealing man being battered by the world.

By his subject matter, Sedaris plainly has a sense for what **should** be funny; the setups are great. But the stories are lifeless. In each he fumbles through, telling us in lurid detail all the abuse he suffers. Of course, pratfalls and even tragedy can be wildly comic (wits from any age betray this -- John Irving and Steven Bochco are two recent purveyors), but they need more than a simple retelling. Alas, that's all we get from this storyteller.

Voyeurism that might sustain the stories, just so, except there's very little to cheer for in his characters. When not showing how the world is brutalizing him, Sedaris paints a pretty bleak picture of the rest of humanity. I can recall one or two minor characters through these seventeen stories that come across neutral; the rest are thieves, psychotics, and rapists. His family is lovingly portrayed: a disinterested, mommas-boy father, a razor-tongued alcoholic mother and five hazily drawn siblings (excepting his sister Lisa) who seem in perennial competition with their brother.

If tragedy and pain without empathy, poignancy, or even much comic edge are your cup of meat, I heartily recommend `Naked.' The popular press recommends it highly, judging from their thunderous accolades; many compare Sedaris to Thurber, Parker, and even Twain. Given his self-deprecating nature, I'm sure Mr. Sedaris would be horrified at these comparisons. I know I am.

The autobiographical sketches in this book are nose-snottingly funny. I was afraid to take this book to the gym because of the unattractive physical manifestations the hilarity might provoke. But what makes these stories (or essays) so enduring is the underlying tragedy of it all. There are moments of incredible pathos, moments that would bleed the tears out of us in real life, and Sedaris has us laughing. I think, in a way, that Sedaris's work is so pitch perfect that by reading it, you are immersed in the same mechanisms that the wacky Sedaris family uses to deal with a weird a tragic world.

This book was incredible! After finishing the whole thing in an afternoon, I was amazed at the quality of writng (honesty, humour, and vigilance) that David possesses. Please, write more. This book WILL be worn out by the number of friends laughing their heads off. Thank you!
P.S.> Thank God I'm not the only one who collects teeth from kittens! Phew!

Sharp-witted David Sedaris recounts childhood trauma, young adult foibles, and his stint at a nudist colony in this collection of tales entitled "Naked."

Sedaris is absolutely hysterical. His witty observations and self-deprecating stories will keep readers enthralled throughout the book.

I highly recommend this book!

I love David Sedaris. He has the kind of funny sense of humour that I relate to. Caution: if you hate the show Seinfeld, you'll probably hate David Sedaris stories. ;)

While a thoroughly enjoyed this read, I have to admit that I like 'Dress your Family" better.

However, the story about him and the nudist colony is weird and laugh out loud--one of my favourites stories of his.

All of David Sedaris' work is great! If you get the chance, listen to the pieces he has read on This American Life for NPR. They are sooo funny! The thing about his writing is that the stories are so off-the-wall and told with such honesty and cleverness that you can't help but identify/sympathize with him. He's like a post-modern Dave Barry, maybe...

Most people, at some point or another, think that their own lives would provide great material for a book. Usually this turns out not to be the case, but David Sedaris proves to be the exception with this highly entertaining, often hilarious book. Some essays were definitely more entertaining than others, but all are worth reading. Highly recommended.

True, I did laugh out loud at some of the stories, but I didn't think it was "Sidesplitting" as the cover said. An OK read if you want to read the details of someone growing up in a dysfunctional family and wandering around during early adult hood (didn't we all!). Challenge to the author: Tell us about your MEANINGFUL relationships...

I love David Sedaris. Ever since I heard him on NPR one morning several years ago, I was hooked. I am even considering going to him hear him read for his Me Talk Pretty One Day book tour. This book is fantastic. It is hysterical and touching. He is a genius. You must buy this or get it on audio casettes/CDs from the library. David and his sister read the stories which makes you appreciate them all the more. I have a Plague of Tics memorized, I have listened to it so much. I also bought the David Sedaris Box Set as a Christmas present to myself. All his past work and Me Talk Pretty One Day are great. Buy this - you will not regret it.

"Naked" is a bizzare, yet humorous, glimpse into the life and times of David Sedaris, made even more bizzare when the fact sinks in that it's a memoir. Through his essays, Sedaris treats us to an insider's look at his warped childhood, and subsequent warped adulthood, touching upon subjects such as his golf-obsessed father, the relationship between his old-world-stalwart grandmother and his end-of-her-rope mother, and hichhiking days accompanied by a parapalegic. The essays are superbly written, perfect for reading out loud, enthralling, and endowed with a usually-hitting, self-depracating humor. Some jokes are hit or miss, but it averages out to a definitely amusing read. For anyone with a strange family, or a skewed view of the world, there's something in "Naked" to relate to.

I don't know how this book made it to the NY Times Bestseller. It was the worst piece of writing I have ever read. Even twenty year olds in my previous fiction workshops could write a more substantial, insightful story than Sedaris. It's pathetic that all it takes to sell thousands of copies of a novel is a person inventing the most outrageous stories about his 'supposed' real life. This should have been classified under fiction, since there is hardly a shred of truth to these short memoir essays. My advice : don't waste your money & time for this garbage; it comes a dime a dozen.

At first I couldn't understand what all the hoopla was over a memoir about a guy I had never heard of. Then. I read. Never have I laughed out loud so much when reading. David Sedaris' life growing up in a big family in North Carolia is either real or fiction, I don't care. Read it and enjoy. Especially the chapter on his obsessive compulsiveness and inclination of licking light switches.

"Shaved VAGINA?" (When writing about a woman at a nudist camp). I believe you mean vulva. You don't shave a vagina. That and a few other mistakes made me put this down before I finished it. How does this get by editors? I just felt embarrassed for him. I have also been disturbed by the descriptions of animal suffering in a couple of his books recently. Not funny. I think I'm done with this author.

If you are not chuckling & laughing so hard that tears are falling down your face, you can't be reading this book. Each chapter is a separate, funny short story. "Naked" is funnier than the next book, "Me talk pretty one day", perhaps because the stories take place in the U.S. (the other revolves around his experiences in France). You will never forget his story of the nudist camp, the Christmas elf, or his mother talking with his grade school teacher about his odd every day behavior. A very charming & offbeat book. You'll want to pass it on.

I agree with another reviewer. This book is one that you want to share yet you want to keep it to yourself.

Being from the same area the Mr. Sedaris grew up I enjoyed this book even more so because of the landmarks that he described.

You will laugh out loud when reading this book. He keeps you interested the entire time!

I read this on a plane and laughed so hard I started to cry. I tried stopping the laughter in tears and it was just not possible. The passenger next to me was getting concerned she was stuck next to a loon! I finally asked her to read a page about the brown towel incident. She not only laughed with me, but kept wanting me to tell her what happened next. I am buying multiple copies to give as gifts this Christmas coupled with Holidays on Ice. You just can't go wrong with this book.

Most people, at some point or another, think that their own lives would provide great material for a book. Usually this turns out not to be the case, but David Sedaris proves to be the exception with this highly entertaining, often hilarious book. Some essays were definitely more entertaining than others, but all are worth reading. Highly recommended.

True, I did laugh out loud at some of the stories, but I didn't think it was "Sidesplitting" as the cover said. An OK read if you want to read the details of someone growing up in a dysfunctional family and wandering around during early adult hood (didn't we all!). Challenge to the author: Tell us about your MEANINGFUL relationships...

I love David Sedaris. Ever since I heard him on NPR one morning several years ago, I was hooked. I am even considering going to him hear him read for his Me Talk Pretty One Day book tour. This book is fantastic. It is hysterical and touching. He is a genius. You must buy this or get it on audio casettes/CDs from the library. David and his sister read the stories which makes you appreciate them all the more. I have a Plague of Tics memorized, I have listened to it so much. I also bought the David Sedaris Box Set as a Christmas present to myself. All his past work and Me Talk Pretty One Day are great. Buy this - you will not regret it.

"Naked" is a bizzare, yet humorous, glimpse into the life and times of David Sedaris, made even more bizzare when the fact sinks in that it's a memoir. Through his essays, Sedaris treats us to an insider's look at his warped childhood, and subsequent warped adulthood, touching upon subjects such as his golf-obsessed father, the relationship between his old-world-stalwart grandmother and his end-of-her-rope mother, and hichhiking days accompanied by a parapalegic. The essays are superbly written, perfect for reading out loud, enthralling, and endowed with a usually-hitting, self-depracating humor. Some jokes are hit or miss, but it averages out to a definitely amusing read. For anyone with a strange family, or a skewed view of the world, there's something in "Naked" to relate to.

I don't know how this book made it to the NY Times Bestseller. It was the worst piece of writing I have ever read. Even twenty year olds in my previous fiction workshops could write a more substantial, insightful story than Sedaris. It's pathetic that all it takes to sell thousands of copies of a novel is a person inventing the most outrageous stories about his 'supposed' real life. This should have been classified under fiction, since there is hardly a shred of truth to these short memoir essays. My advice : don't waste your money & time for this garbage; it comes a dime a dozen.

At first I couldn't understand what all the hoopla was over a memoir about a guy I had never heard of. Then. I read. Never have I laughed out loud so much when reading. David Sedaris' life growing up in a big family in North Carolia is either real or fiction, I don't care. Read it and enjoy. Especially the chapter on his obsessive compulsiveness and inclination of licking light switches.

"Shaved VAGINA?" (When writing about a woman at a nudist camp). I believe you mean vulva. You don't shave a vagina. That and a few other mistakes made me put this down before I finished it. How does this get by editors? I just felt embarrassed for him. I have also been disturbed by the descriptions of animal suffering in a couple of his books recently. Not funny. I think I'm done with this author.

If you are not chuckling & laughing so hard that tears are falling down your face, you can't be reading this book. Each chapter is a separate, funny short story. "Naked" is funnier than the next book, "Me talk pretty one day", perhaps because the stories take place in the U.S. (the other revolves around his experiences in France). You will never forget his story of the nudist camp, the Christmas elf, or his mother talking with his grade school teacher about his odd every day behavior. A very charming & offbeat book. You'll want to pass it on.

I agree with another reviewer. This book is one that you want to share yet you want to keep it to yourself.

Being from the same area the Mr. Sedaris grew up I enjoyed this book even more so because of the landmarks that he described.

You will laugh out loud when reading this book. He keeps you interested the entire time!

I read this on a plane and laughed so hard I started to cry. I tried stopping the laughter in tears and it was just not possible. The passenger next to me was getting concerned she was stuck next to a loon! I finally asked her to read a page about the brown towel incident. She not only laughed with me, but kept wanting me to tell her what happened next. I am buying multiple copies to give as gifts this Christmas coupled with Holidays on Ice. You just can't go wrong with this book.

i just now finished the last chapter of Naked. and i simply had to spout to the world my new love of David Sedaris. this was the only book that had me laughing out loud whenever i picked it up. on the subway, at work, alone at my house....i couldnt stop laughing. i identified so much with mr. sedaris' image of his own family. and i saw myself in him so often. and it made me laugh at myself and see the humor in otherwise horrid situations. the story "ashes" in which mr. sedaris talks about his mothers teminal illness almost brought me to tears and as soon as i launched into the next story i was laughing out loud alone in public again. read this book. perfect for any cynic.

If the following quote doesn't make you want to read this book, then you're a little crazy.

"Test eye shadow on all the rabbits you want. Strap electrodes to the skulls of rhesus monkeys and shock them into a stupor, but it is inhumane to place a nudist on horseback the day after a chili cook-off."

My favorite essays: "True Detective," "Dinah, the Christmas Whore," "Ashes," and "Naked."

Can't wait to read another one!

This book was hillarious! I wouldn't say it's "laugh out loud" funny, but its witty. David Sedaris writes in a very sarcastic tone. Even the very somber parts of the book still keep a light tone, for instance when dealing with his mothers Cancer. It is a quick read, but one that is well worth it!!!

Those who found this entertaining or humorous must be warped or disturbed individuals. The events are obviously exaggerated and intentionally absurd, bordering on psychotic. I also found several inconsistencies that made me think I had misplaced my page and was re-reading the same chapter by mistake. Definately not the light laugh I was expecting.

If you like to laugh out loud, this book is for you. It is the third David Sedaris book I have read and he never disappoints. He has a great skill for finding the humor in every day life and the experiences of him and his family. This book is hard to put down.

I got to meet David Sedaris and see him speak live a few years ago in college, and became a fan of his after hearing him on NPR and reading 'Me Talk Pretty...', so I decided to pick this book up and give it a whirl. After hearing him in person, it's quite easy to picture him telling these stories, yet imagining, 'how in the world did he survive his childhood?' As others have said, the book isn't filled with hilarity, but it makes up for the lack with wit and sarcasm. It was a nice change of pace from some other more serious books I've gone through lately. Yet another welcome addition to my bookshelf :-)

Don't lend this book to your friends. Invite them over and drink lemonade and vodka out of those big plastic glasses from McDonalds and read it out loud (if you can). Get terribly drunk, smoke Misti's and listen to Ben Folds Five and remember that porno book that you found. This is the funniest thing you will ever read.

It doesn't happen often that a book makes me laugh out loud, but this had me masking my face repeatedly in public because I kept laughing so hard. He has a way of putting things that makes them ridiculous yet true. I don't know how anyone can give this a negative review, it's just crazy and hilarious.

Summary:
The book is a collection of short stories, most of which I believe are based on the author's actual experiences. Most of the stories are about his family and growing up, but the final story, Naked, is about his experience going to a nudist colony/resort.
My Comments:
All of the stories are well-written, engaging, and entertaining. As is the case with 'Holidays On Ice', the author never reveals when a story is fictitious or not, but I was inclined to believe most of these were non-fiction (though there might be an embellishment here or there).
I was impressed by the author's candor about his personal life. To be willing to reveal one's quirks and even poke fun at them takes either a lot of money or a lot of self-security. I'm not sure which is Sedaris's motivation, but whatever it is, it's nice to hear someone being frank about life.
Though the stories jump all over the place and don't really seem to have a common thread, I don't think anyone can argue that Sedaris has a gift for telling poignant and humorous short stories. The stories are a bit outlandish and the author is blunt, meaning they probably aren't for everyone, but I would definitely recommend this book.

In Naked, David Sedaris explores and makes humor out of all his semi-dysfunctional life experiences. He pokes fun at his family and describes his college years through a hauntingly funny light which at times makes the reader laugh, and yet groan audibly at his gross bordering-on-vulgar moments. Nonetheless, Sedaris finds a way to connect to his audience by highlighting the familial dysfunction that every reader can relate to. Naked is comprised of a bunch of segments of Sedaris' life and we are able to experience the love, pain, humor and anger as Sedaris recounts his life story to us. I highly recommend this book! Hard to put down, Naked will definitely have a spot on your favorite books list! :O)

David Sedaris gives us a very revealing look at his flawed dysfunctional life in a way that has you laughing.Never having a "Woe is me" attitude, Sedaris arm chair quaterbacks a lot of his decisions with hilarious observations. He comes across as a likeable but flawed guy, not really sure of where or if he fits in. He never takes himself, or anything else too seriously.It makes you realize that life is never as bad as you think, or as good.I will definately buy the other books by him.

This collection was a gift to readers with the peculiar experience of growing up in an ethnic family, of growing up a gay man and even of losing a parent. Sedaris is nothing short of brilliant and I find myself quoting the book to friends daily. This was a real treat. Thanks David!

In one word.....WoW..a gorgeous writer, I was first Introduced to ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY ....I couldn't read it in public because I was too embarrased to fall to the ground....crying of too much laughter...He writes the littlest things that society thinks but does not say out loud. Truly the best wittest writer. I could understand completely through his emotions..I said" Wait a minute is this my life?...Hold on is this my family? I would love to met you Mr. Sedaris as well as seeing your plays. The level of humor is what I've been waiting for a long time..NO MORE Dramitica(meaning dramatic) stories in my life. It's all about Naked...oh and he talks real pretty!=)

This book is great for taking you out of your everyday boredom. You will laugh and love his unique perspective on life. It made my day of waiting at Jury Duty most pleasureable. I was laughing out loud and people were staring at me. His family life just cracks me up.

David Sedaris is an absolutely hysterical writer and this book does not disappoint. His stories are always quirky but yet truthful and make me laugh out loud. The only thing better than reading a story he has written is listening to the audio version of it b.c there is just something about his slightly annoying voice that makes the stories sing.

"If nothing else, life in the suburbs promised that you might go from day to day without finding s*** in your hair," or at least you would think. The chapter describing why this could not be relied upon had me on the floor laughing.

I read this book on an overnight train from Florence to Paris and thought I was going to roll out of the bed because I was laughing so hard. I can not remember a book that struck me like Naked. I am embarassed about some of the parts I thought funny, but Sedaris' matter-of-fact style made me have no regret. I am looking forward to Me Talk Pretty - and more laughs!

The first part of Naked I found hilarious, especially the the Sedaris mother with her frosty hair, Dinah the Chirstmas whore, and the mystery of who is using the household towels as toilet tissue. But as soon as the book went into the hitchhiking it got really creepy and never got back its offbeat humor for me, just disturbed me. I recommended tuning into the author's sister Amy on Comedy Network's "Strangers With Candy Instead".

Loved, Loved Loved this book...I am like a missionary with it, I've purchased 4 copies so far and am handing them out sharing the 'good word'. What was wonderful about it was that everyone on earth has experienced these insecurities, family members with a resume of antics, and the other various coming of age experiences Sedaris shares with us. I am just not sure we'd confess them in such a "naked" way that Sedaris does. We laugh and cry and spit out our food (don't eat while reading this book!) as he shares it with us. I am looking for him on NPR all the time now. Thanks David Sedaris.

Naked is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Sedaris has a gift for portraying rich characters--although this book is based on his life, I'm willing to bet that he's prone to hyperbole in some of the situations he describes--he'd *have* to be. :) Some other people have said say in their postings that they think this book is sad--I disagree. Sedaris chronicles his experiences without self-pity and states his choices without apology. The book is broken into individual vignettes of situations that seem to perfectly come together at the end. An excellent book--I look forward to more.

Listening to this just made me wish that David and Amy had done more works togother. They are a matched set of disfunctional nuts that seem to get on with life even though the odds are against it.....Having listened to everything David has done, I have to tell you that a day without David is BORING!!!!

After laughing out loud during his first book, I was ready for another. Then I overheard my friend chuckling non-stop over a book. It was Sedaris with Naked. Even if you are short on humor, you'll enjoy this book. Laughing out loud is good for the soul!

Naked is hands down one of my favorite books! Its a collection of memoirs told of certain parts of his life out of order. The hilarity and wit in which he recalls these experiences is uncanny. You can't help but laugh out loud!
I picked it up almost by mistake, you know that saying "never judge a book by its cover"...I did just that. For some reason those white boxer shorts caught my eye, by page 14 I was in stitches. Once I finished reading that book, I immediately looked up his other works. I am a true fan.
Naked has been passed down to friends then to parents of friends and all of them have enjoyed the book.

"Naked" is a delightful introduction to David Sedaris for those of you who enjoy "real-life" humor and have never read Sedaris. I had not read his books, but heard him on occasion on National Public Radio, so this really primed my palate for his histerical, "Me Talk Pretty One Day."
"Naked" reels you through what it's like, or perhaps, reminds one what it's like to grow up misunderstood, confused, and desperate to belong, maybe...
What makes him funny is his cadence of language and quick segues to keep you interested, laughing and flipping pages

I loved this book from the first page to the last. I read it every second I could and found myself reading parts out loud to my husband. David Sedaris is an incredible storyteller and even makes sad things funny. I can't wait to read his other books.

naked is a guide book to average writing. there is rarely any sub-text besides the typical boringly obvious allusions made by amatuer writers. in his effort to make this book the "riot" it is, sedaris employs every other sentence to act as a cheap punchline to an obvious set up. his character just wasn't that interesting or that different from everybody i've ever met, neither were his exploits. i do feel bad saying this because sedaris seems like a really nice guy judging from the photo in the back of the book. sedaris himself, i mean the sedaris in the book, also seems like an alright fellow; he just doesn't have many keen, funny, or interesting observations on the wacky ride we call life.
the saving grace of this book was that in certain spots it reminded me of the extremely enjoyable author, richard russo, who like sedaris fills his books with humor but is often much more dead-on. if you like sedaris, try russo, blah blah blah...
i truly am astounded at the raves this book guide.

Sedaris is a master of the short story. This and "Barrel Fever" are the funniest books I have ever read. I used to read this book while riding the bus to work in San Francisco. I would be in tears with laughter and everybody else on the bus would look at me like I was crazy, I wasn't, this is a beautiful thing! If you ever have the chance to hear Sedaris read his stories don't pass it up, his voice characterizations and inflections make these stories even better, if that were possible. Read this book you will not forget or regret it!

I was not sure if this was actually autobiographical. How could anyone's life be so macabre -- unusual -- simply difficult to believe. The author with his talent for describing his family, makes mine sound boring. My daughter heard Sedaris on NPR and had to pull her car over to get off of the road because she was laughing so much. That's when she decided to purchase Mom (Me!) a copy of the book for Xmas. I, in turn, shall send it on to my twin, a NYC dweller, who I am sure will find the book as captivating as I did. I would like to meet Sedaris.

If you like to laugh this is the book to read. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself while reading "Naked". It was definitly a roller coaster ride of funny experiences and stories. I can't even recall a book that I found so hilarious.

Is this funny, really? This book opens up the main character and exposes him like a mean sister at Thanksgiving after his greatest blunder. Is it wrong to laugh? Is it right? Who cares? This book just makes you face the fact that there is humor in everything. A quick read, leaves you with a smile on your face, thinking, "That was funny...um, but should I be laughing?" Well, obviously...duh. Of course.

I haven't read a book as side-splittingly hilarious as Sedaris' in many years. I saw so much of my own self in him (although I never licked light switches), with his wry observations of family life, growing up, and reaching adulthood, that I could not put the book down. David has an amazing gift to meld the idiosyncracies and poignant realities of ourselves and people we know, love, or meet in everyday life, and his essays provided me with refreshing reminders that maybe I'm not as weird as I thought I was :) I've never heard him on NPR, but I do look forward to his other stuff with enthusiasm.

I like his witty approach to this memoir, especially in the last essay Naked. It features the author being in a "Naked Camp" where all premises are to be used only when you're naked! It's open and sees deep into your heart, read it!

Enjoyed the book, David Sedaris is always entertaining and worthwhile. I would have to say that I enjoyed 'Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim' more - I found it a much funner book than 'naked' . That is not to diminish 'Naked' rather it emphasizes how funny 'Dress your family...' is.

I think this book is awesome. David Sedaris writes about different chapters of his life: from licking the lightswitchers when he was younger to puttung shoe lack in his hair to change his identity until he goes on vacation to a nudist colony; everything is included. He describes his life with fun and humor - a normal life like mine seems boring compared to his. But especially his way of writing and explaining things make the book so great.

'Naked" really makes you more open for different people and different life styles. It shows you that it is important to try new things once in a while.

If I could, I would give this book ten or twenty stars. In fact I would give it every star in the sky. I won't waste your time by writing a long review, because you should be reading this book instead! You will laugh until you pee your pants or die, whichever comes first. Great fun, even if the pee is a mess.

David Sedaris (along with his sister, Amy) is one of the funniest writers out there and NAKED is one of his best. It's a true classic that will get in the most stone-faced reader to head to the hospital for a busted gut. Also check out ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY and, if you get a chance, to see David's play THE SANTALAND DIARIES (a hysterical one-man play about working as an elf at the mall's Santa stand).

oh I loved this book, I read it in Chicago when I was on the train to work. Bad idea, it was so hard not too laugh, I was red in the face. Several people gave me this nod, like they knew why I was laughing.

Very funny.

my goodness. this novel will definitely make other people question your sanity. while i was sitting in class one day, i remembered some funny parts of the book and i just busted out laughing. it was hard to explain to my teacher and classmates how the hell i could be quiet one moment and laughing insanely the next. the book is just so hilarious, you can't help but laugh out loud. i was a bit disappointed, though, that i didn't find the latter part of the book as funny. but it's a good read. i recommend it, but not if you can't stand people looking at you strangely. ;)

Sedaris' essays in this collection all read like dark comedies. They're perfect; brilliant. I savor each one, trying my best to read them slowly. Read his stuff! Read it now and put more money in this man's pocket! He deserves it.

I read this book an a flight and drew unwanted attention. I laughed so hard tears ran down my legs, I had to put it down. I was sobbing with laughter. Never happens to you? Read it, you'll laugh ( and cringe).

I received my copy of "Naked" from my sister as a birthday gift in December, and because of a particularly stressful semester, have not had a chance to read it until now, mid-May. What a pleasant surprise it was to read this book and be entertained, appalled, energized, and at times left on the edge of my seat. David Sedaris has a knack for catching the reader off guard, which is where a great deal of his humor originates. This tome is nothing short of brilliant!

"I was a smart-ass, born and raised. This had been my curse and would continue to be so." And I thank the literary gods that it was so. David Sedaris is a smart mouth straight through the book and a funny one as well.

For the first part of "Naked," I found myself analyzing every sentence to guess what was true and what was embellished or made up. This book is more "based on a true story" than actually a memoir. But once you let go of having to believe every word, the outrageous exaggeration is just hilarious. It drags on a little in the middle, but it's hilarious most of the time.

This book on audio download is wonderful because the stories are hilarious and insightful, and so very honest. It's amazing how David looks at the most serious of subjects through a lens of humor and it works!

The audio book is read by David Sedaris and that makes it much more personal and effective. I couldn't stop listening!

I only listened to 10 minutes of David Sedaris' book "Naked" on tape before shutting it off. I don't find obsessive/compulsive behavior comical, which is what the main character of the first "humorous" essay clearly displayed. Sorry, but mental illness isn't funny to me. Treatable, yes; funny, no. Thankfully, I rented this tape from the library, so I didn't waste money on it. I couldn't give "0 stars" in this review, or I would have done so.

David Sedaris takes you on a journey through part of his life in a series of autobiographical essays - each one better than the last. If you're in the mood for a comical autobiography then this is for you!

I love Dave Sedaris! His stories are great for people with short attention spans (like myself) who cannot sit through a whole book. There is a chapter on his childhood OCD which almost made me pee on myself. This book is great!

This book is so funny, the first four chapters are just priceless. The last book I read where I laughed out loud, was "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot". And that was years ago. I never thought I'd laugh so hard again, and now this book comes along. What a treasure. This book would be best for someone open minded, with a great sense of humor and positive outlook on life. There are definitely a few people I know who I would never recommend this book to. Which says something about them.

Although the book was well written and did contain many witticisms, I found the book to be sad and depressing. The stories of a lonely grandmother, psychiatric wards, and a father consumed with golf, left me feeling mournful for this family, and turned my thoughts to the darker side of life. Unfortunately, I was expecting a light-hearted look at an adolescent's growing pains that might have made me laugh at some of my own background and given me a connection to the author and other readers.

This is Serdaris's best work. His stories are laugh out loud, roll on the floor funny! I have read this book several times and listened to the audio version several times, and every time it is as funny as the first time.

...not only when it comes to being naked but also when it comes to writing a book. Sedaris not only has the capability to observe closely, he moreover succeeds in portraying details in well-crafted and enjoyable prose. While the book has some less interesting stories, it made me laugh out loud at other times. And the mother is simply one of the funniest characters ever.

I contemplated purchasing this book for quite a while but coulnd pull the trigger. Finally after reading "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by David Eggers, I was recommended this book. I didn't find any of the stories funny. And considering the reviews on the store I was disappointed. Nothing ever reached out and grabbed me with this book. The stories just seem run of the mill. I would suggest Eggers' book if you want a truely entertaining memoir.

the publisher describes "naked" as non-fiction...mr. sedaris has a REALLY funny, real life. there needs to be more humor published, but this book sets the bar very high. the author's take on life and view of himself is at least memorable and at best a series of deep, gut laughs. buy this book.

Reading this book in public was a bad idea. Mr. Sedaris has such a way of putting things that makes them seem almost too hysterical to be believed -- but they are indeed true. I would recommend the book highly to those looking for a read which is humorous, yet not without substance.

This is, without a doubt, the funniest book I have ever read. I had a constant smile on my face while reading it and was constantly being stopped (on the street, on the subway, at work, in class) and asked what I was reading because of my sudden outbursts of hysterical laughter. I re-read it as soon as I was finished and have added the hardcover to my library. My personal favorite story: Dinah, the Christmas Whore!

I just plain didn't like this book. I thought that both the humor and the writing style were very weak. I read the first two chapters, skimmed through the rest, then pitched it in the trashcan. If there was a rating lower than one star I would have selected it.

I was reading "True Detective" when I had to put the book down for a full ten minutes because I was laughing so hard. For whatever reason his poop references get me everytime. It is all the more enjoyable if you have heard him read from his works on NPR. Imagining it in his voice is part of the humor.

This book is so funny, the first four chapters are just priceless. The last book I read where I laughed out loud, was "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot". And that was years ago. I never thought I'd laugh so hard again, and now this book comes along. What a treasure. This book would be best for someone open minded, with a great sense of humor and positive outlook on life. There are definitely a few people I know who I would never recommend this book to. Which says something about them.

Although the book was well written and did contain many witticisms, I found the book to be sad and depressing. The stories of a lonely grandmother, psychiatric wards, and a father consumed with golf, left me feeling mournful for this family, and turned my thoughts to the darker side of life. Unfortunately, I was expecting a light-hearted look at an adolescent's growing pains that might have made me laugh at some of my own background and given me a connection to the author and other readers.

This is Serdaris's best work. His stories are laugh out loud, roll on the floor funny! I have read this book several times and listened to the audio version several times, and every time it is as funny as the first time.

...not only when it comes to being naked but also when it comes to writing a book. Sedaris not only has the capability to observe closely, he moreover succeeds in portraying details in well-crafted and enjoyable prose. While the book has some less interesting stories, it made me laugh out loud at other times. And the mother is simply one of the funniest characters ever.

I contemplated purchasing this book for quite a while but coulnd pull the trigger. Finally after reading "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by David Eggers, I was recommended this book. I didn't find any of the stories funny. And considering the reviews on the store I was disappointed. Nothing ever reached out and grabbed me with this book. The stories just seem run of the mill. I would suggest Eggers' book if you want a truely entertaining memoir.

the publisher describes "naked" as non-fiction...mr. sedaris has a REALLY funny, real life. there needs to be more humor published, but this book sets the bar very high. the author's take on life and view of himself is at least memorable and at best a series of deep, gut laughs. buy this book.

Reading this book in public was a bad idea. Mr. Sedaris has such a way of putting things that makes them seem almost too hysterical to be believed -- but they are indeed true. I would recommend the book highly to those looking for a read which is humorous, yet not without substance.

This is, without a doubt, the funniest book I have ever read. I had a constant smile on my face while reading it and was constantly being stopped (on the street, on the subway, at work, in class) and asked what I was reading because of my sudden outbursts of hysterical laughter. I re-read it as soon as I was finished and have added the hardcover to my library. My personal favorite story: Dinah, the Christmas Whore!

I just plain didn't like this book. I thought that both the humor and the writing style were very weak. I read the first two chapters, skimmed through the rest, then pitched it in the trashcan. If there was a rating lower than one star I would have selected it.

I was reading "True Detective" when I had to put the book down for a full ten minutes because I was laughing so hard. For whatever reason his poop references get me everytime. It is all the more enjoyable if you have heard him read from his works on NPR. Imagining it in his voice is part of the humor.

This book has a new story in each chapter.
Some chapters are hilarious
Some chapters are lacking any humor I would find funny
I definately would reccommend this book to lighten your mood or put a smile on your face.
this is not the type of book you need to read cover to cover.
you can pick and choose what you want to read.

The first 30 pages of this book are funny, entertaining and well written. As for the other 261, just tell me when they are over. Sedaris tries to keep you reading with odd dysfunctional family stories and adolescent troubles. But, it is not enough to keep this book afloat. Even with a title like Naked (which only makes sense during the last 20 pages), I don't think this book could even entice it's self.

Naked tells such funny stories about David Saderis' life it's hard to believe! Starting from childhood when his neurotic mind forces him to lick light switches, to when he visists a nudist camp, this book is OUTRAGEOUS!!!
Naked held some of the most ridiculous,original things I have ever read. Few books have held my attention like this. I kept finding myself lyling on the coutch reading instead of watching TV. For a while there, Naked was my TV.
Joey-one false mover

I first heard David Sedaris on WBEZ's "This American Life." He read an exerpt from his book Naked and I was curious to read more of his novel. Naked is one of the funniest books I've ever read! The essays in the book deal with Sedaris's passage into adulthood. Although, the book loses it's luster in the middle, it does pick up near the end.

Browsing through the book section of the store at the student union building of the college I am going to (State University of New York at Oneonta), the title of this book grabbed my eye. I am so glad that after flipping through the book I decided to buy it, because once I began reading it, I could not stop thinking about it. While that may not have been the best to be mulling over during my classes, every moment not divided to school I was rushing to finish "Naked." I loved it, quite simply.

This was one of the funniest, wackiest books I've ever picked up. At first I thought it was fiction because the life of David Sedaris seems too implausible to be real. There were times when I laughed so hard, I had to put the book down to catch my breath.
I dare anyone with any sort of a sense of humor to pick this one up and NOT laugh.

i'm glad snoop diggity-d has decided to come out of the closet with his film talents!i mean i was really getting mad because there isn't a wide distribution of his earlier work...or david sedaris' for that matter. i have to go to the little specialty/foreign shop off broad st. to get them both. but when i came out yesterday with snoop's last skin flick and dave's Naked i immediately read Naked before watching Snoop. i must say that the cat story is a stroke of cheese-wiz like genius.
LONG LIVE SOUP! uh..i mean snoop.

I first caught David Sedaris while watching the Late Show with David Letterman. I thought it odd Letterman would have on a guess to read essays; but about 30 seconds into the essay I didn't question Dave's logic. Sedaris' gift for hiding the set-up for his jokes makes Naked particularly funny. This was the first of my David Sedaris reads and I have since purchased his other works. All of which are as funny as this one.

I loved this book..and his other ones, too. I finished "Naked" and started all over again, with the same pleasure obtained. David Sedaris is a comic genius, and develops a sympathy for his characters and family that is phenomenol. I look forward to a long career from this author

What a riot this book is! Sedaris is so vivid and irrepresibly funny in his descriptions in this autobiographical tale of family craziness, youthful bizareness, and personal excentricity that one cannot help but laugh out loud.
Thre hurrays for well written dark self-mockery at its best!

Naked is David Sedaris' bravest work yet. It's very funny but Mr. Sedaris is so open in his assessments of his family and, most especially, of himself that I wondered if I would have the guts to expose myself like that (no pun intended). I found his chapters about his quadripelegic friend and the death of his mother very moving and insightful. It's definitely my choice for my next book club's selection

David Sedaris is one of the funniest writers alive. But this book was just plain dull. What an incredible disappointment coming right after his amazingly hilarious book "Barrell Fever." Fortunately, he's redeemed himself in his latest work "Me Talk Pretty One Day." I'd skip reading Naked.

sedaris is easily the funniest person writing in america today. I did not want this book to end, and stretched its reading out as long as possible. His writing is polished, tight and to the point, but every line is hysterical; every portrait of the people around him, destined to bring nods of empathy from his readers. After i finished this one, i ran out and bought his other two: you cannot have too much Sedaris.

David Sedaris has several things going for him. For starters, his life has been filled with unique adventures that make great launching pads for his essays on the American experience. He also brings a -- oh, forget it. It's very, very, very, funny stuff, and he can turn a phrase like nobody's business. Buy it. If you have a sense of humor, you'll eat it up.

I read the fudge colored towels part on an airplane. I laughed hysterically and was sure that security was going to be waiting for me when I exited the plane. When I finished the book, I felt that I had been invited in to meet someone with no holds barred. I was left with the sense that I could pick up the phone and call David Sedaris and it would be like calling a friend. A must read.

I read this book while on vacation in St. Maarten. It is hilarious! I love the author's witty and dry sense of humor. His is cynical but writes all the things most of us are thinking! I have bought many of this author's books and loved them all!

I don't often laugh out loud while reading, but I did so many times while completing this memoir. Sedaris makes his characters seem as if they are in the next room, ready to go and visit, as if he has just seen them yesterday. His cutting wit allows him to adapt without unraveling. Highly humerous, very personal, a treat for the whole family.
BTW, Einstein, what is the Latin word for "blowhard"?

As someone who would otherwise never be caught dead cracking a smile on the subway, I laughed out loud every morning on my way to work as I read this book. Sedaris' wit is just the right combination of dry and real, his precision is unmatched by any writer that comes to mind.

I read this book a while back and I just could not stop telling everyone about it. Even recently, i remember recommending it to someone who would fit that sort of personality.
Naked makes you think about the funny little quirks in your life that just aren't funny to you but somewhat habitual.
I can't wait to pick up 'me talk pretty'.
cheers

This book is uneven. Everybody seems to have different favorite stories. I myself loved "A Plague of Tics," but if you don't, there's probably something in here that you will like. This is for you if you like David Sedaris, NPR, or if you just think people with obsessive compulsive disorder are funny.

This is the second book by David Sedaris that I've read. After reading Me Talk Pretty One Day, I had to go out and buy this book. It is a funny and quick read. You'll want to take it everywhere and read it until you finish.

From the way I spell humour, one can tell I am not American.

Sedaris transcends the bounds of race and culture, whilst being typically American. He paints a portrait of "la condition humaine" in such a funny and poignant way that leaves you spellbound and applauding. What talent! What genius! Bravo!

This is THE funniest book I've ever read! And I mean it -- Laugh Out Loud Funny! This is the 1st book I read by Sedaris, but it definitely won't be the last. I am picking up his more recent novels straight away.

I have read most of David Sedaris and this was the best of the bunch. Okay the first part of his childhood compulsions were strange but C'mon....Get your Ya-Yas out and I like Guys were so funny I almost needed a clothing change. I have tix to see him this November and I cannot wait! Get this book!

I borrowed this book from my father in law. Best idea ever. This book had me laughing out loud and I'm sure I looked insane sitting in the airport. This is a fantastic read. Currently buying it for my home library.

I love this book, each chapter draws you in and creates a living breathing environment that captures the reader. David Sedaris is witty, charming, and an imperfectly perfect charater in his books. A must read!

I read this book on a flight from LA to the East Coast. The woman seated next to me asked to be reassigned another seat. Several others wrote down the title of the book that made me laugh until I was close to using the airsickness bag.

I read Naked on a flight between D.C. and California. While downing Diet Coke and "snacks" I laughed aloud while most other passengers were watching reruns on overhead TV. I saw my mother in his mother, I saw my father in his father, I saw me in Lisa and I saw humanity, original and wacky, sweet and surviving in David. More, oh please ... I want more.

I have read most of David Sedaris and this was the best of the bunch. Okay the first part of his childhood compulsions were strange but C'mon....Get your Ya-Yas out and I like Guys were so funny I almost needed a clothing change. I have tix to see him this November and I cannot wait! Get this book!

I borrowed this book from my father in law. Best idea ever. This book had me laughing out loud and I'm sure I looked insane sitting in the airport. This is a fantastic read. Currently buying it for my home library.

I love this book, each chapter draws you in and creates a living breathing environment that captures the reader. David Sedaris is witty, charming, and an imperfectly perfect charater in his books. A must read!

I read this book on a flight from LA to the East Coast. The woman seated next to me asked to be reassigned another seat. Several others wrote down the title of the book that made me laugh until I was close to using the airsickness bag.

Crazy, laugh out loud funny, especially if you can relate to the quirky obsessive compulsive behaviors, the mother who has her own FUNNY (nutty) way of dealing with her life, ...and this is just the first few chapters!

I read this book, desparate to read something fun. This was exactly what I was looking for. There were parts of this book that were so funny, I couldn't help but wake my husband up with my laughter. Excellent book, very funny in parts, poignant in others. Read it.

About a third of the way through David Sedaris's book, I wondered how I had not heard of this guy before. This guy was funny. No, not just funny, he was really funny. He didn't just make me laugh while reading his book, he made me cry I was laughing so hard. So why, why had I not heard of someone so side-splittingly funny? A couple chapters later, I understood why. A few more chapters after that and Naked went into a dive bomb. While there were some redeeming moments near the end, he never fully recovered and I returned the book from whence it came with a sigh, thinking of what could have been. So what went wrong? Let me tell you first what went right. The moments where David was a kid and shared stories about his experiences growing up, those were the priceless moments, those were the hilarious, tear-inducing scenes that were impossible not to enjoy. His description of his sarcastic mom, his crazy grandma, his golf-obsessed dad with mutilated friends were priceless. They were characters you could like and laugh at, at the same time. Then comes stories from Sedaris's college days and afterwards, and you begin to think, "You know, I don't really like this guy." And it is hard to laugh with a guy that you end up not liking. This is a guy who is an unapologetic drug abuser, uses obscenities with graphic language and descriptions, takes advantage of people, looks down on others. Some of these he tempers with a measly sentence at the end of a chapter showing that he has since learned better, but you don't believe it. It doesn't feel sincere, especially in the way he has written it. There are aspects of his childhood self that linger and allow you a view of the Sedaris that you miss, but alas, they are only glimpses. It was with great effort that I finished Naked, and it was with a bitter taste in my mouth. If I could chance to read more from Sedaris's childhood, I might venture back into those waters, but until then I will avoid him and think of what might have been.

I thought my family was insane, and they are- but Sedaris's family makes mine look boring in comparison. He is insightful, his descriptions are always very visual and funny and his cynicism has an unexpected warmth!

The author's view of life is definitly unique. More than once, I found myself cocking my head to one side and saying "hmmmm, I never thought of it that way before." The book is well written and is hilarious. I recommend it.

I loved this book. Each individual story was entertaining and hilarious! The entire book kept me laughing. Going through his day to day routines, coming to find that nothing was as it seemed. Very good, it's deffinately a must read. However, there was some profanity and sexual content.

Witty, sarcastic and so unexpected, the book invites you into a world of bizarre people and events that makes you want to explore the peculiarities of your own life. Sad and hilarious, "Naked" is not only fascinating -- it's addictive.

Hoping to get a little more depth to the movie I'd just seen, C.O.G., which supposedly is derived from this book, I downloaded the sample. Normally I wouldn't rate something after reading just the sample but since I have no desire to read further and after having found many of the reviews miseading I decided to anyway. A good percentage of those reviews indicate this book is humorous, so I expected to get at least some humor out of this. I didn't.

Update 8-14-14: I rented the ebook from the library to avoid the $10 Kindle price. I read one more chapter that was beyond the Kindle's preview. My opinion of this book still stands. I just don't see any value here.

This was my first David Sedaris book, and I bought the audio version. I had high hopes considering the rave reviews everywhere, but was very disappointed to find out that this book was far from funny. This book is sad and depressing! There is nothing funny about a child with OCD, or losing your mother to cancer, or having a dysfunctional family. I laughed once through this entire book, and I couldn't wait for it to end.

I bought this book based upon the reviews I read on the store, and was greatly disappointed upon reading it. I expected a side-splitting reading experience, but instead was 'treated' to the life experiences of a drifting whiner. The funniest part of the book was the beginning 'fantasy' sequence. Once he got out of that mode, it was all downhill. If you're a responsible adult that doesn't find humor in the young and un-(or under)employed, don't buy this book for laughs.

I was very disappointed with this book. I've enjoyed Sedaris' essays on "This American Life" and loved his "Holidays on Ice" book, so I was really looking forward to this. It simply wasn't funny. I found it sarcastic, angry and even depressing. It wasn't just self-deprecating, it was mean-spirited.

I definitely do not recommend it.

After having enjoyed "Take the Canoli" (Sarah Vowell), I thought I would stick with the NPR storytelling genre, and bought this book as it was on the the store's "also bought" list.
Written auto-biographically, Sedaris describes the nightmare of his childhood, as well as the nighmare of a child he must have been to his parents. He describes in detail his childhood obsessive compulsive behaviors, like screaming unexplicably in class, compulsive rocking, listening the same pop tunes hundreds of times, the need to smash his nose up agaisnt window glass when he was in a car, and how he had to count each step on the way home from school (with assorted rituals along the way, like opening doors with his elbows. This was a messed up kid. (or the fiction of a deranged person). I did not find it funny at all -- it was distrubing.
He also talks about his family including a father so obsessed with getting his kids to take up golf, that he finds it more important to keep the author and his sister at a professional golf event, than to deal with his daughter's first menstruation. Sick parent. Sick kid.
I put down the book about 1/3 of the way through, when he reveals his alternate sexual preference. For those of us who want to believe that such is a choice/preference of otherwise normal healthy people, this book disturbs that notion. I will share this book with no one -- I think I will throw it away.

One reviewer rated this as `side splitting'. I totally disagree. Don't get me wrong ... I, too, am a fan of David Sedaris, but not of this particular piece of work. In fact, I'm now feeling pissed at myself for spending $11.95 for this boring story; especially since I'm unemployed. Even without any outside distractions, I could not stayed focused on Naked. Take my advice and save your hard earned money.

The first book I read by David Sedaris was Me Talk Pretty One Day and I loved that. LMAO funny! Then I bought this book... I hated it so much stopped reading and THREW IT IN THE TRASH! It was painfully tedious, not funny or interesting in any way. Barrel Fever was Terrible too. Ive read all of his other books and I love them.

I listened to the audiobook version. The narrator has an unpleasant voice. The humor is sophomoric, including themes such as poop, body parts, etc. A couple areas of this book were hysterically funny, but it is a sad read overall. Not recommended.