The Land and Its People: Essays

by David Sedaris

“Sedaris is the standard against which all other humor essayists are judged, the overwhelming heavyweight of the genre.” —Vulture

In The Land and Its People, his first new collection since Happy-Go-Lucky, David Sedaris reflects on what it means to be a foreigner, a brother, a lifelong friend. He tries on the role of caretaker after his boyfriend Hugh’s hip-replacement surgery, and both succeeds and fails. He buys his sister a cape and discusses his brother with a jaded Duolingo bot. He walks dozens of miles with his friend Dawn and challenges her to eat a truck tire. Ever adding to his list of “Countries I Have Been To,” he rides a horse named Tequila in Guatemala, buys a bespoke priest’s cassock in Vatican City, and goes on safari in Kenya without taking a single photo.
 
There is sadness here—scrolling through his address book, he realizes how many dear friends are now deceased—but also he revels in authors’ biographies, the malapropism that becomes a decades-long inside joke, and pair of well-made cotton underpants. He is bitten by a dog. A train passenger vomits in his face. A woman on the street late at night either sexually harasses him or doesn’t. Look how hard it is to be alive!
 
Throughout these essays—at once acerbic and tender, playful and profound—Sedaris shows how much there is to marvel at when you keep your head up and your eyes open, observing with warmth and curiosity this fascinating human species and the lands we inhabit.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Essays, Memoir, Biography, Biography Memoir, Comedy

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

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

[CJ Alberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am I the first person to review the new Sedaris on Goodreads wtf!!!! David is less angry at his dad in this one and I’m happy for him. I just simply love him, even if he’s completely unrelatable to me on an income level now he still Talks To Me you know

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly my review of Sedaris’ previous book was harsh. I try to write reviews just after I finish a book, and my emotions are high and my thoughts haven’t had time to mellow. I probably could have put a sweeter spin on what I didn’t like in the collection, but it is how I felt in the moment.

Thankfully, this new collection gets all of my praise….almost! The cover price is worth the number of times I laughed out loud, like cathartic, deep, laughing. Much needed laughing. Sedaris isn’t holding back, he’s unbelievably irreverent and not at all PC here, it was shocking, and, at least to me, hilarious.

There are times he falls into Andy Rooney territory. “Get off my lawn!” style curmudgeoness. And one of my disagreements from the last book comes up again here, there’s lots of talk about the fancy possessions being acquired. Thankfully, the luxe mentions are used better here. A tale about a very pricey cashmere cape is a stunner, funny, sarcastic, and heartfelt in that special Sedaris way.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an early peek.

[2raccoonsinacoat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think David Sedaris is one of the best modern comedy writers. I also think this book kind of missed the mark.

To anyone who has read his stuff before, the format is much the same. A collection of easy-to-read essays reflecting on his, usually absurd, interactions and observations of daily life. He talks about marriage, living in NYC, traveling, meeting strangers, and public transportation.

I was pretty obsessed with his books when I was in college because they were smart, self-deprecating, digestible, and occasionally heartfelt. I credit the audiobooks of “Me Talk Pretty One Day” and “Let’s Talk Diabetes with Owls” with surviving an awful stint in a Limnology Lab.

That being said, this was his first book to disappoint me. The writing was strong, the length and pacing of each essay perfect, and his wit was sharp as always (I laughed out loud several times). Maybe I’m just older now (or maybe he is?) but it just felt so…bitter. He’s always been a critic, but there was no reconciliation in this, no balance. And all of the digs at trans/non-binary people were grating. It’s giving “mean gays”, but not sarcastically. What happened to not taking swings at people with less power than you, David?

I still like David Sedaris and think fans of his earlier stuff will find something here to enjoy, but I wouldn’t recommend this to a first-timer.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly new essays. Still funny but a tad less irreverent.

Worth a read or better yet, a listen.



Thanks Edelweiss and Little, Brown and Company.

[Lisa Burris · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not secret that David Sedaris is a master of the essay form, and his latest collection underscores that. Whether eulogizing a childhood friend or lamenting the moroseness of his godson, Sedaris is relatable and funny, and, for those of us who have long enjoyed his work, reading each new collection is like catching up with an old, albeit often crotchety, friend.

[Jess Svajgert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen, Sedaris is and always has been self-absorbed in his incredible storytelling, but he’s getting increasingly crotchety (complementary) in his advancing age, and I appreciate it more and more as I also get older. He’d be great to have a gossip sesh with but I also don’t think he could be bothered to be stuck in a conversation that long.

Another laugh out loud collection of essays, this one has the usual travel and shopping tales but also sees David take on the Duolingo characters! The cape and the cassock are also some of my favs!

[Charlie Hourihan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I’m taking crazy pills reading some of these other reviews.. David Sedaris has always been this self absorbed LOL that’s why I love him! Maybe because there are fewer stories about his childhood it’s a harder pill to swallow? It wasn’t my favorite but it definitely had me chuckling. I love how much care goes into the final sentence of a lot of these essays.

Once Sedaris mentioned being on Duolingo I was on the edge of my seat waiting for him to share his thoughts on Lily (the purple haired character & my personal Duolingo nemesis). He did not disappoint!

[Chrissie]

Loved "Friends"

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Sedaris has been one of my favorite authors and essayists since I read Me Talk Pretty One Day when it was first released back in 2000. So I guess I’ve been a fan for over 25 years. I’ve read every single one of his books as well as saw him speak at ASU Gammage in the mid 2000’s.

His essays in this latest book, The Land and Its People, are delightful; they are filled with humor, insight, and the disdain for impolite humans which makes him so relatable. He talks about his long walks (GOALS! I wish I could walk as much as David does on a daily basis), his Duolingo addiction, and his relationship with long time companion Hugh.

The Land and Its People: Essays, is a lot more of that classic David Sedaris that we know and love. Having read his works over the past 25 years, I feel that I’ve grown with him as he’s aged through the years, and in this book he discusses the friends that he’s lost as time marches on. He also talks about his extensive travels (again, GOALS) through so many countries, adventures on safari, riding a horse atop a volcano, and trying to journal while sitting in a bouncing safari vehicle.

This book is excellent as a newcomer to David Sedaris, as well as those of us who have followed his books since the beginning. I feel like I know his family almost as well as my own by now, with all of their quirks and problems. It’s a wonderful read that almost felt too short, because I was having so much fun diving into each essay.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for sending me this ARC.

[Logan Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at Hooked on Books: https://medium.com/hooked-on-books/bo...

What is it about David Sedaris that keeps me coming back?

In his relaxed, intelligible tone, Sedaris hides many contradictions. He’s overwhelmingly curious when he speaks to strangers, but refuses to share his feelings with his family. He loves a raunchy story/joke but can’t handle sick people and/or displaying PDA with his husband. He is worldly and modern, but often old-fashioned. Sedaris is certainly funny, but has a past that is a bit darker than you might except.

Where should I start to answer this question? The New Yorker has become famous for his personal essays, memoralizing moments across his life. My first experience with Sedaris was through an issue of The New Yorker (I know it’s confusing to have ‘The New Yorker’ appear two, three times in a paragraph, but hold on, I’m doing something) and from there I plucked his collection Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls from my Libby app. It’s an excellent introduction to his worldview, the chaos both in his brain and in the world around him. Obsessions, misunderstandings, family, and social norms. It’s all there and all riveting.

He carries all that through into his upcoming collection, The Lands and Its People: Essays. There is little connective tissue between the essays, at least in terms of story. His husband Hugh gets hip surgery, which leads Sedaris into a quagmire of spousal-healthcare norms. There are altercations (both imagined and very real) on the street and on/in various transportation types. I’ve always enjoyed his travel-centric essays, this book has several. A Long Way Home is a highlight (trying to order a BLT at McDonald’s is delicious in its absurdity).

One of the book’s major themes does start to become clear the further you get in. From the ‘puffy, foot-tall toilet seat in our home’ to the discussions of cancer in Good Grief, aging and death comes up frequently. My Cousin Melvin — one of the longest essays in The Lands and Its People — transitions from a brief aside on AI into a nuanced flashback into a friendship and the distance we sometimes gain from others as we age. When Sedaris drops his over-the top shock humor, when his musing narrows into a point, I’m reminded of why he’s remained relevant. However, these themes are well-trodden in his work and Sedaris has done them better. Happy-Go-Lucky is a pandemic book (a growing subgenre) and Calypso is all about middle age. Both are a bit warmer than this one, a bit more varied in their material.

The Lands and Its People is still supremely entertaining (turns out, there is a lot of material to mine in death) because Sedaris is almost always funny, accessible, and reliably obtuse. I think that’s the answer for why we continue to read him. We show up for the humor and flashes of his unique insight over the human condition. He’s like a Waspy Larry David, a bit of a stranger in a world that he always looking to understand.

(The Land and Its People: Essays by David Sedaris releases 26-May-2026 from Little, Brown and Company. Review copy provided by Little, Brown and Company in exchange for an honest review.)

[Katherine McGauley · Rating 4 out of 5]

***spoilers/discussion of full collection follows***

You may as well know where I stand as I write this review — David Sedaris is one of my favorite writers. When I received an advance copy of this collection, I took it personally, imagining it an audition for the role of friend/colleague. Virtual highlighter (finger) in (on) hand, I pored over a buggy e-reader, tapping out annotations that yearned to be insightful about this writer who, frankly, I’ll always admire.

That said, Sedaris is, at times, annoying. He’s insistent upon being validated for opinions that he knows will come across “Republican”. There’s a quality of shouting at the clouds in “Enough is Enough” and “Punching Down” and “Say It Like You Mean It” and “Welcome In”, and subtext becomes supertext in “And Your Little Dog, Too” when he cops to “an almost blinding rage.” If you want to know what I think is happening in these moments, Sedaris is getting older, and he has told us that this is something that makes him uncomfortable in other people. He’s thinking about his late father a lot, remembering him not fondly for the most part. He’s thinking about his siblings’ health, and about their childhood — the family he always knew was the best, felt real pride in. He’s facing early confrontations on limitations of mobility — his boyfriend (spoiler: husband) rehabilitating from hip surgery, and himself perhaps never achieving a 100k step day with a dear love from his college days. Death is more present in his life, and as he notes in “Welcome In”, he’s “in the hard part of getting old—the part where everything irritates you.”

But isn’t that line alone enough to draw you in, even as you’ve rolled your eyes at the cantankery before? These stories are full of turns of phrase as lovely, unexpected, hilarious as ever. His literal translations of French maintain their charm. One of my favorite sections comes towards the end in “My Cousin Melvin”, in which Sedaris provides a re-write of an AI-generated blurb meant to be in his voice. Want another little taste, just as a treat? How about this inspired banger from “Punching Down”: “Children now are like animals who have no natural predators left.” How does he do that?

I note as I’m writing this that I’m substantiating a fear I am too much like Melissa Bank, Sedaris’ late writer friend we meet in “Good Grief” who realizes while teaching a film that “it was one of her all-time favorites, but that didn’t mean she had any great insights to offer.” A bit of exasperation noted, I love Sedaris for what he shows of himself and reveals to me about myself by reflection. This collection is likely to evoke a range of responses, but I’m very happy to have read it.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are three major modes in this book, and my enjoyment was highly dependent on which mode he was in for a given essay.

The first, and worst, is “globetrotting elite”: traveling to Rome with Stephen Colbert to meet the pope, going on a safari in Kenya, constantly shopping all over the world. After a while, it grates a bit; it often feels name-droppy (or place-droppy?). And he’s still himself, which comes across differently in this context – a poor curmudgeon is a lovable kvetch; a rich curmudgeon is Cruella de Vil.

The second mode is “aging thoughtfully” – there’s more illness and death among Sedaris’s friends and family at this age, and he brings an appropriate pathos to these essays. As a loyal reader over the years, you do get the sense that you’re aging with Sedaris, and that this is what to expect when you get into your 60s. (Of course, being a few decades behind, there’s also the foreboding sense that the people you’ve gotten to know in his books, including David himself, will be gone within your reading lifetime.)

It’s the third mode, “classic Sedaris,” that makes it all worthwhile. In general, I don’t laugh out loud when reading, but I did several times here. It’s often the same stuff that has always worked in his books, which he seems to do better than anyone – taking a familiar situation and responding in a way that’s totally perpendicular to anything that would cross a normal person’s mind. The best essay, I think, is about testing the limits of Duolingo’s AI chatbot. Another favorite passage dreams of a man in a suit who would tell people to take their feet off the seats on trains:

“‘I own that seat,’ he would tell them. Then, on the off chance the slob with their feet up was unhinged, the man in the suit would preemptively shoot them in the face, really fast, like a cobra strikes. Or it could be a woman in a suit, or someone who’s nonbinary—the important thing would be to execute the passenger super-quickly because, even though they might take their feet off the seat for a few minutes, what are the odds they’ll actually learn a lifelong lesson?”

I think it’s this fantasy of absurd power in a situation of mundane powerlessness that’s so compelling and resonant. Maybe that’s why the humor is somewhat harder to find, now that he’s so often in a position of relative power. But boy, when he’s on, he’s on.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a few collections of essays by David Sedaris, as well as his “Diaries”, which made me think why I don’t have a diary? Maybe the thought of putting something in my diary would make me want to do more interesting, everyday things?

“The Land and Its People” is one of those books that I couldn’t wait to get back to reading.  It was bringing me joy, and laughter, and many knowing smiles, the kind of “oh, yeah, I understand the feeling”. David Sedaris has such good observation skills and, most of all, a great sense of humor. Whenever he is: at a midnight walk in NYC, at his and Hugh’s house in Sussex with a pasture where eves live, or at an African safari, surrounded by seven lions, he never loses his slightly detached, observational sense of humor. Even when learning German with Duolingo or an AI-generated learning assistant like Lily, he shows that everyday habits can lead to a thoughtful, somewhat unlikely comparison.

He also has a great feel for language. One of my favorite essays of his, from an earlier book, is “Me Talk Pretty One Day” – it’s just so touching, human, and humorous at the same time.  In this collection, he gives us an example of his French when he talks to his French friend – another funny example of what happens when we learn a foreign language.

But, as usual, this is not just funny stories. Often, there is a genuine feeling of understanding and compassion. I really love how he talks about Hugh: the essay that starts by discussing different expressions of a close relationship – a boyfriend, a partner (which I also don’t like and find too business-like), a husband – comes to a very sweet and touching conclusion. I loved reading about his family - his parents and siblings, and I remember them from his previous books.  A one-sided conversation with his godson, Tommy, is also extremely amusing. It’s just so easy to imagine the whole situation at the breakfast table!

This book will be published in May, and I plan to buy it and return to it often, feeling like I'm meeting a cool friend and just smiling with him, talking about all the moments in life. There was no essay in this book that I didn’t like – all were different, and all were small gems.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Land and Its People by David Sedaris is an excellent, very highly recommended collection of 28 essays, most of which are being published for the first time. I enjoyed every single one of these humorous, impudent, and occasionally poignant essays and found this to be among one of his best collections.

When something happens in life that is odd, surprising, surreal, or over-the-top, I often comment to those I'm with, "Well, this will make a great story." Sedaris is a writer who embodies this sentiment to perfection as he writes about the observations, struggles, absurdities, and experiences he encounters in everyday life. He covers a wide range of topics, including, in part, being a caretaker, traveling, friends, family members, obsessions with aps, encounters with strangers, aging and reflecting on death.

Sure, his wealth allows him access to more experiences and travel than most of us, which he freely talks about, but he still manages to keep it real with discussions of, for example, the puffy, tall toilet seat Hugh needed after hip surgery, finding a favorite brand of underwear, repeated attempts to garner sympathy over a random dog bite, and realizing how many of his friends are now dead. He admits obsessions with Duolingo and 10,000 Apple Watch–monitored steps per day. Sedaris is always himself and not always PC.

Reading these essays felt like a visit with an observant, insightful, and humorous long-time friend where all the filters are off and you can both laugh and share personal anecdotes expressing exactly what you think about anything and everything. The kind of friend who will understand how annoying the reply, "Perfect!" can actually be. Sure, Sedaris can seem to be a bit of a curmudgeon at times, but as a contemporary, can't we all.

The Land and Its People is a welcomed, excellent collection of essays and a must read for fans of Sedaris. Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...

[Sara Planz · Rating 5 out of 5]

SYNOPSIS
In The Land and Its People, his first collection since Happy-Go-Lucky, David Sedaris reflects on what it means to be a foreigner, a brother, a lifelong friend. He tries on the role of caretaker after his boyfriend Hugh’s hip-replacement surgery, and both succeeds and fails. He buys his sister a cape and discusses his brother with a jaded Duolingo bot. He walks dozens of miles with his friend Dawn and challenges her to eat a truck tire. Ever adding to his list of “Countries I Have Been To,” he rides a horse named Tequila in Guatemala, buys a bespoke priest’s cassock in Vatican City, and goes on safari in Kenya without taking a single photo. There is sadness here—scrolling through his address book, he realizes how many dear friends are now deceased—but also delight: he revels in author’s biographies, the malapropism that becomes a decades-long inside joke, and pair of well-made cotton underpants. He is bitten by a dog. A train passenger vomits in his face. A woman on the street late at night either sexually harasses him or doesn’t. Look how hard it is to be alive! Throughout these essays—at once acerbic and tender, playful and profound—Sedaris shows how much there is to marvel at when you keep your head up and your eyes open, observing with warmth and curiosity this fascinating human species and the lands we inhabit.

I have been reading David Sedaris’ books since the late 90s and have never missed one of his collections. What I love about them is how accurately they reflect the world around us, and how Sedaris uses his personal anecdotes to hold a mirror up to the times. His humor and reflections have changed over the years, which as a long time reader of his, I appreciate and see in myself. Now at age 51, I am finding myself becoming much more reflective in my life, and this collection of essays is exactly what I needed. I was pleased to receive an early copy of this and I am quite excited to see him in person next week here in Las Vegas, something I have wanted to do for a very long time.

[Thomm Quackenbush · Rating 3 out of 5]

It pains me a little to not be able to give this four stars. This is the first of his I've read that didn't deserve around five.

The core issue is that the schtick of being a 27-year-old curmudgeon is charmingly quirky. A 67-year-old curmudgeon is exactly that, and it is not charming or quirky. One is reminded unfavorably of Ignatius J. Reilly.

A secondary issue is the relentless humblebragging, though there is a chance that he is unaware that most of us are not globe-trotting authors who are just so bored with meeting the Pope at the Vatican by invitation and just so weary about counting our $43m. He does make sure we understand *exactly* how much money he has. We can chortle along with the travails of a man acting as a Christmas Elf or the shiftless college layabout. Sedaris gives the feeling that the joke is now on us.

Tertiary but considerable is that Sedaris wants you to know he is one of those Cool Gays™ who look down their noses at queer, trans, and nonbinary people. He brings this up almost as much as he lets you know that he is rich and you are not. He does have a bit where he mocks his naivety about the idea that humor doesn't come from punching down. One just needs to be tasteless. We noticed.

This David Sedaris is one Original Formula David Sedaris would have delighted in mocking to shreds.

This book is not without heart or humor, but it is thinner now. My biggest laughs in it were from other people's jokes. Whereas I have insisted upon reading whole pages of his previous books aloud to my friends, I mentioned a few lines this time. It is a quick read, but it is unsatisfying. The Sedaris from previous books is one whom one might gravitate toward to be catty out of boredom at a cocktail party. This Sedaris is more likely to have security remove you for being too lowborn to remain in his sight.

[Alan (the Lone Librarian) Teder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Land is Your Land
A review of the NetGalley ARC eBook read in advance of the Little, Brown & Company hardcover/eBook/audiobook expected publication May 26, 2026.

This latest collection of comic essays by David Sedaris left a warmer impression than the last one Happy-Go-Lucky (2022) which seemed more bitter in its recounting of the COVID lockdown years and the death of Sedaris' father. Sedaris still comes off as self-centred and curmudgeonly, but he is regularly self-deprecating and funny about it.

Several of these were printed in The New Yorker in the past few years and one of those, A Long Way Home, remains my favourite. In it, Sedaris and his partner Hugh end up renting a car to drive home to New York City from a vacation after airline flights are cancelled. They end up taking another passenger along to share the driving. The usual absurdities occur, including a reluctant stop at McDonalds.

The title essay The Land and Its People recounts journeys to Guatemala and Panama, although Sedaris barely interacts with the local populace and instead searches for quirky brands of local cereal foods.

I'm a long-time Sedaris fan so this gets a totally biased 5-stars from me. I'm sure regular readers will agree.

My thanks to Little, Brown & Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance ARC copy for which I provide this honest review.

Trivia
I couldn't help but be curious about the very odd photograph used for the book cover. An internet search revealed that it is cropped from a larger beach photograph which is usually titled as "A young couple enjoys a little isolation at the Santa Monica beach, 1950." Photographer Ralph Crane for Life.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

As is often the case, the acerbic wit and utter self absorption of David Sedaris makes me laugh. For the most part, you know what you’re getting into when you read one of his books, there’s something almost grotesque with such admissions and it’s difficult to look away. He opened strong with the story about his husband’s hip replacement that actually had me laughing out loud in shock. Some essays left my mouth agape, some made me burst out laughing, others genuinely made me cry. He made this a bit of a tilt-a-whirl, he’ll hit readers with a tear jerker and then he ventured into territory that left me feeling kind of upset.

This brings me to my main issue: he takes some worrying swipes at trans and non-binary folks. Not full on bigotry but little jabs that feel unnecessary. I always worry when someone from the LGBTQIA+ community feels the need to distance themselves from the community at large, “look at me, I’m one of the good ones, I’m gay, not one of those *queers*” I’m only barely paraphrasing from the book here.

He even made sure to add an essay that explained where his “IDGAF who I offend or hurt, punching down should and must be done” attitude originated. It felt like a way to inoculate readers like, “look, I know I’m punching down, but a teacher once told me to.”

While I found most of this enjoyable and well written, it did make me wonder how much longer I’ll be reading stuff he publishes. If he continues down this road, I’ll likely give him a miss in the future. Like I said though, you know what you’re getting into with him, he can be mean. 5 stars for writing and pacing, minus one for the worrying content.

Thank you David Sedaris, Little, Brown & Company, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently had the pleasure of seeing David Sedaris live, and I was fortunate to speak with him for a few minutes during his book signing. Afterward, my husband said it was too bad I didn't get to spend more time chatting with Mr. Sedaris, bonding over the things that drive us both crazy.

In The Land and Its People, David Sedaris does spend a bit of time talking about what annoys him. He might come across as a curmudgeon to those who aren't familiar with his work or to those who are and have forgotten that humor is his specialty.

This book is full of humor as well as moments sorrow. No one can combine the two the way Mr. Sedaris does. Several times I found myself in tears – both from sadness and laughter at the same time.

Mr. Sedaris has an amazing talent of observation. He’s able take the most ordinary, everyday moments and turn them into stories that are witty, laugh-out-loud funny, meaningful, and sometimes truly profound. Nothing seems to be mundane in his world (except maybe being asked how your morning is so far), so just about anything can become material for a new essay.

I’ve heard some of these stories told live, but they’ve been edited and improved over time. In his live shows, he shares that after a reading, he’ll go back to his hotel room and edit the stories depending on how the audience reacts.

In this book, we learn about David’s travels, in-jokes amongst his friends, his visit to the Vatican, how he gets bitten by a dog, what type of underwear he prefers, and much more.

Four and a half stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Little, Brown, and Company and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

David Sedaris brings his wit and off-centered world view back into focus in this 4 out of 5 star series of essays.

I've been a fan of David Sedaris' witty observational humor for quite some time, and I was really looking forward to this book. From the first essay, I found myself in awe of his evergreen wryness and highly polished writing style, but a bit off-put by his growing grumpiness. Spending an exorbitant amount of money to avoid taking care of Hugh? Where did that come from? As always with Sedaris, it is hard to tell how much is exaggerated for comic effect and how much is real.

One of the best parts of Sedaris’ appeal has always been how easily he relates to the average person. In this collection of essays, with a few notable exceptions, it feels like he has drifted away from the common folks and into the upper echelon. While there is nothing inherently wrong with that, it does make a great deal of his perspective harder to relate to.

As always, there are sweet and tender moments, and again, Sedaris saves the harshest critiques for himself. I enjoyed this collection, but did not feel the connection that I am used to feeling, which is why I'm rating it four stars instead of five. It is entirely possible that when my pre-order of the audiobook arrives, hearing the essays in his voice may change my mind. For now, though, I recommend this collection of essays to anyone who loves to laugh and to anyone who has enjoyed Sedaris' earlier books, with the caveat that David runs in different circles now, and it is beginning to show.

[Beth Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

David Sedaris’s upcoming memoir essay collection THE LAND AND ITS PEOPLE brings the reader back to his trademark wit after a particularly morose previous collection entitled HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, which ended up being anything but, featuring the death of his father, David’s complicated feelings about that, and the pandemic. I was pleased to be back to his more traditional fare after that being a heavier book.

There’s no new territory in this if you’re a fan of his work. This goes back to his more typical observational musings: book tour antics (like being bit by an unhoused person’s dog), sibling antics, traveling with Hugh and his homes in at least three different cities (I am fondest of the North Carolina house he named Sea Section), a bit of namedropping to show us that he really isn’t like us if you didn’t pick that he has three homes, his obsession with counting steps (I relate!) and DuoLingo points, etc. He does give one rather big reveal that I don’t want to spoil.

Like an eccentric uncle, David refuses to take pictures and will never learn to drive. But there’s a certain sadness when he realizes that his address book contains more people that have died than are alive. This is juxtaposed against his always-there self-absorbed nature.

If you’re a fan like me, in many ways this is something new in the same package as something old, so it’s a bit like coming home.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.

It publishes May 26, 2026.

[smashingthanku · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Sedaris’ The Land and its People is fresh and funny, just as you expect Sedaris will be. It is a wry commentary on the world in the twenty twenties from the view of an aging gay (but not queer) southern-raised New Yorker living abroad - as an American, not an ex-pat. David Sedaris writes what many of us think and then think better of.

Still he says it all with such honesty and lack of reproach that we can’t help but appreciate him, empathize with him, and laugh with him.

He is able to relatably make light of barking at his boyfriend, whom he not so quietly resents the way we all at times resent our partners (a word he despises), to convey his love for a wholly unlovable father, to demonstrate with stark clarity all that lacks in the rise of AI writing “in the style of the author” - perhaps one of my favorite passages of the book!

The Land and its People features a familiar cast, the Sedaris family clan - with some new characters sprinkled in - an array of friends, a woman he and Hugh pick up in an airport, his godson, and Lily the sarcastic purple-haired Duolingo teenage teacher.

The Land and its People hits exactly where we need hit in 2026, experiential and reverential, bold and derisive. As always, Sedaris works because his critical eye is always well aimed - most often squarely at himself.

*galley copy received from NetGalley

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Sedaris. Wonderful writing, sometimes tee-hee, sometimes ha-ha; always sharp and a little unexpected. The masterful part is the invitation into his thoughts, experiences and life delivered with such authenticity that the less tasteful or palatable aspects of his reflections only lend to the shared reality of this world he creates. I don't know the author personally, but in reading these essays I feel like I'm catching up with a dear friend I've known forever; that friend full of personality and opinions who always has the funniest, craziest new stories and those cute weird quirks that I'd never dream of owning up to and trying to pull off. Read it with the same patience, acceptance and readiness to laugh that you bring every time your favorite fun Aunt calls. Or maybe your Godfather. It's great, love it, strongly recommend.

Because of these essays I'm going to read D.T. Max’s Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace. Given the mixed reviews, will see whether or not that negatively affects my rating of this book as a whole. I will be telling people I finished Infinite Jest after completing the biography, i feel like it's what David would want me to do.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[TAMMY CUEVAS · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, you need to know that I’ve read almost all of David Sedaris’s books, and loved all of them. I’ve noticed that some reviewers are not enjoying David 2.0, so I want to address that.
He wasn’t as laugh out loud funny this time, but is the world as humorous as it once was? I worry about the sanity of anyone running around grinning like an idiot. This collection of essays only makes him more relatable, as he sounds more like just any random person you might meet. Thanks to this book, I know that we have watched the same TV shows and enjoy the same book genres. Yes, some have pointed out that it’s clear he has more money than most of us, and therefore a way more interesting life, but I accept that. If I could write like him, I would have that kind of money, too. Instead, I buy his books and live vicariously through his stories.
Others complain about his complaining. (How’s that for ironic hypocrisy?) So, he’s becoming more curmudgeonly. The great thing about reading him over the years is that we’re aging together. We’re old, we’re bold; deal with it.
He’s still writing about his family, and I can never get enough of that.
Now, if anyone needs me, I’ll be out looking for a Lu-pree-shun. If you don’t understand, read the book.

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley

[RavenReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading and loving David Sedaris for nearly twenty years, and The Land and Its People feels like another step in that shared journey. While his earlier work thrived on outrageous, laugh out loud situations, this collection leans more into the kind of sharp introspection that comes with age; and I found myself appreciating that shift just as much.

There’s a sense here that both Sedaris and his readers have grown up together. His observations feel a bit more jaded, a bit more cutting, and at times even quietly bittersweet, but they’re still so deeply relatable. I found myself recognizing pieces of my own perspective in his humor, especially in those moments where the comedy brushes up against something more reflective. That said, he hasn’t lost his edge. This is still unmistakably Sedaris: wry, observant, and genuinely funny. There were multiple moments where I caught myself legitimately LOLing at my desk, which is always the mark of his best work. It’s the kind of writing that reminds you why you’ve been reading an author for decades and why you’ll keep coming back. I’ll read anything David Sedaris writes, and this is no exception.

Many thanks to NetGalley, David Sedaris, and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Reading Xennial · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few books by David Sedaris so I was pumped that this was available to read early. I love his writing style and the topics he chooses to write about suck me in. I wonder how it’s possible to keep coming up with things about one's own life that makes a stranger like me so captivated reading his books, but he does it. I haven’t read all of his books and I tend to spread them out, but I’ve always enjoyed them. At first glance I thought his humor was what I appreciated the most, but actually it’s how he makes me think about the small mundane details of life and learn to appreciate their intricacies. I think that’s a big part of how he keeps coming up with content, but he makes it captivating. He writes about the good and the bad, but makes the topics feel relatable to most readers. He does all this while making me giggle throughout the chapters. I highly recommend his books if you like nonfiction, but I also would recommend this book if you’re trying to get into nonfiction. Sedaris’ books are a great place to start.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

[K R N · Rating 5 out of 5]

By some miracle that I don't understand, I was offered an advance copy of the ebook, which made my year.

I love David Sedaris and this book is delightful - I laughed a lot as always. It's consistently surprising, which is one of his qualities I love, and a bit edgier than past books as in slightly more R-rated here and there. If your kid is into reading, maybe go with another of his books, but I enjoyed it. It was fun that it went further afield than usual, both in terms of foreign countries - I'd love a David Sedaris travel guide : ) - and subject matter. But it also includes a classic Sedaris essay ripping on the latest bland language parroted everywhere, which is always fun and also just a relief, to hear someone who agrees and makes fun of this stuff a million times better than I could. I wish I could have a David Sedaris essay on everything I find annoying to help laugh about it. There were a lot of touching and moving stories too - incredible range as usual, absolute mastery of writing as expected.

I love hearing him read aloud too, so I plan to still buy and listen to the audiobook (which I see is recorded live this time) when it comes out May 26th.

[Haley FS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more like 3.5 stars. I love Sedaris but this collection was not as memorable as previous works. There were a couple I really enjoyed (Forget Me Not, And Your Little Dog Too), and some I recognized from when I saw him on tour in 2023 (My Cousin Melvin), it was fun to revisit those. However, the first essay (Care & Feeding) didn’t draw me in as much and not sure I’d have it as the opening essay - although it’s no surprise there is some (albeit relatable and even charming) selfishness to Sedaris his lack of desire to care for Hugh after his surgery was a bit off putting. Other essays were okay, but I agree with those who said it’s very clear Sedaris is in a different tax bracket than the rest of us. Though in some ways, is that such a problem? He finishes the book with an essay that very much reminds us that is not where he began. Overall I’m glad to have read the book just not sure much of this one will stick.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the advance release copy.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of David Sedaris since the late 1990s; I have read and loved almost all his collections and I even got a chance to see him live in Miami Beach in the early 2000s. I am the audience for this book, and I am happy to report that it's another winner!

This collection of short essays brings us up to date with the reportable news from Sedaris' life, with stories about his family and friends, most notably his partner (husband?) Hugh and his sister Amy. Each one has its own charm, and it seems that his curmudgeonly demeanor has only intensified with age (which is just fine with this crotchety old reader). It was fun to laugh out loud at David Sedaris again!

I really enjoyed the book, and I think his fans would enjoy this as well. I suppose this might not be the best introduction to this author's work, and starting with his early titles would make the most sense.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Christopher Febles · Rating 4 out of 5]

ADVANCE REVIEW COPY

The humorist comes back with a whole new set of essays. He’s getting on in years, which is funny all by itself. But he’s doing a little look-back here and there, and doesn’t hold back.

I found this set to be a little less cohesive than others. One chapter will have a title, the intro will be about something completely different, it’ll verge into the stated title, making you say, “Oh, OK, that’s what he’s talking about,” then he’ll go back into something random. Or maybe it’s me.

You know, I didn’t mind that much. Because the diversions were funny. The randomness made sense. Hey, it’s a crazy life and he has some crazy ideas, so…OK.



He talks a lot about family. Loved the picture of his crazy mom and somewhat neglectful and negative dad. Well, I didn’t LOVE them, but I loved his description of the chaos they created. And all those siblings!

He works in his sexuality, marriage, age, careers, college, his past. He can dissect and reflect on them with that smart-ass humor, and even offer some smart-ass responses to very confused people in the world. I laughed out loud several times, scaring everyone in the house.

Yep, another good one from Sedaris.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. The Land and Its People will be released July 2, 2026.