Theft by Finding

He's like an American Alan Bennett, in that his own fastidiousness becomes the joke, as per the taxi encounter, or his diary entry about waiting interminably in a coffee-bar queue. Guardian review of An Evening with David Sedaris

For nearly four decades, David Sedaris has faithfully kept a diary in which he records his thoughts and observations on the odd and funny events he witnesses. Anyone who has attended a live Sedaris event knows that his diary readings are often among the most joyful parts of the evening. In Theft by Finding, Sedaris brings us his favourite entries. From the family home in Raleigh, North Carolina, we follow Sedaris as he sets out to make his way in the world. As an art student and then teacher in Chicago, he works at a succession of very odd jobs, meeting even odder people, before moving to New York to pursue a career as a writer—where instead he very quickly lands a job in Macy's department store as an elf in Santaland...

As you delve into Theft by Finding, you embark on a journey through the hilarious and poignant details of Sedaris's life, from his unconventional family dynamics to his struggles and triumphs. Each entry captures a moment in time, providing a candid and inimitable glimpse into his unique perspective on the world. Whether he's hitchhiking through Oregon or battling an addiction to reading crime reports, Sedaris reveals his innermost thoughts with his signature wit and honesty.

What makes Theft by Finding truly remarkable is Sedaris’s ability to draw humour from his keen observations and mundane experiences. It's not merely a diary; it's a chronicle of transformation and self-discovery. Readers will find themselves laughing out loud, pondering human nature, and even feeling a sense of catharsis as they turn each page.

Tender, hilarious, illuminating, and endlessly captivating, Theft by Finding offers a rare look into the mind of one of our generation's greatest comic geniuses. This collection is not just a book, but a companion, one that you will return to time and time again, finding new layers of meaning and enjoyment.