David Sedaris: Live at Carnegie Hall

by David Sedaris

Sedaris's sold out performance at Carnegie Hall from November 2002 is now available on CD. He is also the author of bestsellers "Naked" and "Me Talk Pretty One Day." 1 CD.

Genres: Humor, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Essays, Memoir, Comedy, Short Stories

2 pages, Audio CD

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

David Raymond Sedaris is an American humorist, comedian, author, and radio contributor. He was publicly recognized in 1992 when National Public Radio broadcast his essay "Santaland Diaries". He published his first collection of essays and short stories, Barrel Fever, in 1994. His next book, Naked (1997), became his first of a series of New York Times Bestsellers, and his 2000 collection Me Talk Pretty One Day won the Thurber Prize for American Humor.
Much of Sedaris's humor is autobiographical and self-deprecating and often concerns his family life, his middle-class upbringing in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina, his Greek heritage, homosexuality, jobs, education, drug use, and obsessive behaviors, as well as his life in France, London, New York, and the South Downs in England. He is the brother and writing collaborator of actress Amy Sedaris.
In 2019, Sedaris was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Reviews

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

This one is kind of a rule breaker when it comes to being a “book” as it is not only in audio format (which grossly enough I have actually witnessed a friend be trolled over and told that Goodreads is for “real” books since humans are awful and the reason why everyone just can’t simply enjoy things), but it also is a hodgepodge of stories, magazine articles, diary entries, etc. that can’t be found in a single collection. To sum it up, this is the best of the best when it comes to David Sedaris and listening to him perform live was an entirely different experience than the regular, generic audio. The audience’s energy was nearly palpable – even through my car speakers. It almost makes me wish I wasn’t such a pussy and could sit in an auditorium with others for one of his readings comfortably. Almost.

If you, like me, were hesitant to dip your foot in the audio pool – collections like these are perfect since you can easily press pause after any of them if you too have a short commute. And if you haven’t yet met David Sedaris, there’s no better time than the present. Live At Carnegie Hall once again featured the laugh-out-loudable “Six To Eight Black Men” – a story first published in Esquire magazine in December of 2002. You can read it for free HERE or take a listen HERE. If you don’t like it, feel free to defriend me because I’m not sure I want to be associated with people like you : )

On the other hand, if you find yourself completely smitten by David’s charms, THIS is a little bonus to brighten your morning.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know, I know—this isn't what most think of as being a “book” per se. However, after being laid out in bed with the flu, Captain Trips, or maybe even that Gluten Free Ebola they were talking about on South Park for the past week or so, I really needed a dose David Sedaris' sardonic brilliance in its most potent form.

I have all of Sedaris' books in audio and physical form. And, yes, most of the material you will hear on David Sedaris: Live at Carnegie Hall has found its way into his work elsewhere. But, even having seen him read live several times, I maintain that this is Sedaris at his absolute best.

I don't know if this recording of “Six to Eight Black Men” from the performance is officially sanctioned or whatever, but if you listen to this and don't want more then, well, I have nothing to say to you.

Really, it speaks volumes that I pulled myself out of bed just to ensure that even those of us with the hearts of coal have something to make us laugh at this oh-so jovial time of year.

[debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!! Delightful, laughed out loud, and felt compelled to share different parts with others; it was just that clever and funny. It would have been selfish to keep it to myself.

Read Kelly(and the Book Boar's) review! My comments won't convince you to listen to this, but Kelly's review surely will.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's David Sedaris, so of course it's enough to make you laugh in public. Check this out after seeing David Sedaris perform live. I'd heard several of these pieces before, but still thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

He named a rabbit "Screened-in Porch" hahahahaha.

[Linda Branton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short little listen - two one hour live specials of David Sedaris reading from his stories.
Laughed out loud so many times!
His take on Dutch Christmas traditions were amazing.

[✿✿✿May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic!!

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Sedaris’ 2012 Carnegie Hall performance was typical Sedaris…hysterical! If you get him, you love him! If you don’t, I feel sorry for you and your childhood lol

[Kate Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

One can never go wrong with a David Sedaris audiobook. Laugh out loud funny. Love him.

[Kim Forsythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny! I had heard or read all of these stories before but must have forgotten some parts because I found myself cracking up at work.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Stadium Pal story is a gem!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious.
My favorite was "Six to Eight Black Men," an essay on Holland's Christmas customs.
So funny.
Sedaris is great to listen to.

[Shallowreader VaVeros · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed so hard that I nearly had an accident and had to pull over in the car.

[Olivia Thames · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second of two audiobooks composed and performed by Sedaris, I could NOT stop laughing at his live performance at Carnegie Hall! It made my last commute to classes this semester much livelier than I expected. It might have also made the days of those who passed by me in traffic and thought odd of the young, slap happy woman they saw on Route 20 this morning.

When I was not laughing at the expense of Sedaris and his loved ones, I pondered on his more thoughtful moments, such as how people (whether we want them to or not) 'get us right' when at times we would like for them to get us wrong. One would argue that by claiming his and their 'imperfections' before others do, he/they own their experiences in their unique authenticity.

I would like to write more about this piece, but at 70 minutes long and the party flying by way too fast (due to the laughter) it will be a short and sweet review. For now at least.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy frijoles, I peed my pants listening to this audiobook.

interesting quotes:

"Gifts are generally reserved for children. And the parents tend not to go overboard. It's nothing I'd want for myself, but I suppose it's fine for those who prefer food and family to things of real value."

"For starters, Santa didn't USED to do anything."

"The six-to-eight black men were characterized as personal slaves until the mid-1950s, when the political climate changed and it was decided that, instead of being slaves, they were just good friends. I think history has proven that something usually comes between slavery and friendship, a period of time marked not by cookies and quiet hours by the fire, but by bloodshed and mutual hostility."

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Live from Carnegie Hall (for you listening pleasure). Hilarious cast of characters…characters like to other….
“ great summary “ If you are driving, pull over. If you are at work, close your door - unless you don’t mind your colleagues seeing you doubled over, in tears, on your office floor. With these two shows, recorded before delirious sold-out audiences, you are there as David Sedaris performs his hilarious stories. A parrot who mimics an ice maker, lovers quarreling over a rubber hand, and a Santa Claus who moonlights from his job as bishop of Turkey - the cast of characters in these stories is like no other.

[Geetha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this paired with "Live for Your Listening Pleasure," so I'm reviewing them together. Classic laugh-out-loud Sedaris. And, of course, hearing Sedaris himself read these essays is always a treat because of his impeccable comedic timing. My favorite on this half was "The Feminine Mistake," which I think might also be in When You Are Engulfed in Flames. I don't know how he consistently is able to write about bodily functions in a way that is hilarious, but somehow not just more potty humor. In this one, he offers catheter jokes for your enjoyment. And enjoy I did.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first experience with David Sedaris and I'm glad that I listened to him read his stories. Not that the stories are not well written - they are - but it seems to me that it is much more enjoyable to hear them than it would be to read them.

The humour mostly lies under the heading of "Nothing Much Really Happens" but there are several stories which contain underlying seriousness and they are mostly all hilarious. However, it is Sedaris' narration which is terrific: his voice and his dry, deadpan, ironic delivery made me laugh out loud!

[Caffers · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Sedaris is so much fun to listen to. It's like chatting with an old friend but he's doing all the talking.
I've heard some of these bits in his other books, but they are laugh out loud funny and I didn't mind hearing them again.

It's all gold, but some of my favorites are... his sister telling him that the key is in the 'owerpot. (and about her Baptist neighbor.)
The parrot bit.
The couple arguing about the rubber hand (so funny, I'd not heard this bit before).

[Sheila Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got to say that some of the things David Sedaris writes in his books makes me realize that my family is not nearly as dysfunctional as I thought! His unabashed honesty and quirkiness are what make me love his essays so much. And the simple fact that he has the gumption to put these things in writing (as I sit here laughing my ass off, with my hand over my mouth thinking, "Oh no he didn't just say that!", but loving that he did) , endears him even further.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty freaking funny. I actually snorted a couple times. I smiled a lot at some of the funny parts, too.

Of course David Sedaris narrated his own audiobook. I mean, it’s him speaking, taped in front of a live studio audience. Sometimes the audience laughed so hard, you couldn’t hear what Sedaris is saying. Or, he has to stop and wait for people to stop laughing. I’m not surprised,

4 stars, and recommended.

[Ligaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! If you are a David Sedaris fan, this is a must listen! He reads several of his short stories, there's a brief interlude of question and answer, and then a couple more stories. He has the perfect voice to read these stories, and his comic timing is impeccable. Although this audiobook is too short, I'll take what I can get!

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

No, this isn't a book, but it is in the database, and I listened to it on Thanksgiving while driving to see family. I don't like adding it to my "Finished" list, but I like to keep track of when I listen to it, since the last time I did was over ten years ago.

For anyone who hasn't listened to David Sedaris, this is a great place to start. It highlights his wit, and it's good to have the audience responding to his pieces. Plus, it has one of his best pieces, "6 to 8 Black Men", and his first draft of his appreciation to NPR is not to be missed. His publishers have since had him read all of his own audiobooks, splicing live readings among the studio recordings, but I think this is where that mania began.

Track it down and give it a listen. You won't regret it.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The formatting was a bit confusing. It was like the audiobook ended in the middle and then another started? This is more like listening to a comedy routine than a narrator reading a book. But David Sedaris is great and I love his stories. He continues to be one of my favorite authors whose writing makes me laugh out loud.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not big on audio books but, after reading many GR reviews applauding Sedaris's style of narrating his own work, I had to give it a try. Glad I did - it was a real treat!

I wished the Q & A at the conclusion of the reading was longer. I wanted to hear more about Rooster and what he's been up to. I hope Sedaris writes more about this colorful sibling.

[Tracy Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book from a live David Sedaris concert. David reads essays in concert and sells out auditoriums like carnegie hall. These stories had me laughing out loud. I actually listened to the book being read by David Sedaris which he is great at pausing at the right moments for full affect.

If I’m laughing out loud, I give it a 5. Enjoy!

[Donna Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying : I LOVE DAVID SEDARIS' WRITING!!!!!! We listened to this on our way to San Diego last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. It includes some new stuff we hadn't heard, esp. about his sister Lisa (the one who doesn't like the writing to be about her!) and updates on other family members, and this cd also includes "Six to Eight Black Men" about St. Nicholas traditions in a foreign country! a hoot! and a short question and answer thing --- and that is just like at his "concerts" --- he repeats the question because you can't hear it usually in such a big venue and answers it very glibly. Love this guy, so I'll always be searching for more of his stuff. I highly recommend this short venture into his work --- but be warned ---- some of Sedaris is "naughty" and irreverent!

[Abbie Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've actually read many of the essays from this reading, but I love the cadence of Sedaris's voice, and I personally think that listening to him read his own stuff may actually be better than doing the reading myself.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this, which is my preferred method of "reading" Sedaris. Funny as always but most of the material was repeated from one or more of his books. Which I tend to reread, so that's fine, but was hoping for a few more new bits.

[Melonknee62 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun listen. Much of it was from books I had already listened to, but there was some new info there and as always, it is just fun to hear David Sedaris speak! Can you tell I'm a fan? His quirky sense of humor and his self-deprecation are just amusing to me. I give this a thumbs up!