You Can’t Be Sedaris

Every profession has its gold standard. The tech industry had Steve Jobs, Michael Jordan set the bar in the NBA, and David Sedaris is top dog when it comes to cleverness. At 54 years old, this Grammy-nominated humorist, author, and radio personality has an incredibly keen eye for the hilarity...

By Victor Gonzalez

October 20, 2011

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Every profession has its gold standard. The tech industry had Steve Jobs, Michael Jordan set the bar in the NBA, and David Sedaris is top dog when it comes to cleverness. At 54 years old, this Grammy-nominated humorist, author, and radio personality has an incredibly keen eye for the hilarity of everyday life. His ability to sift out humor from life’s darkest moments — be it a parent’s death, a $23,000 effort to quit smoking, or your sister’s first period — is second to none. As Sedaris says, “If you’re looking for sympathy, you’ll find it between shit and syphilis in the dictionary.” Sedaris broke into the literary spotlight in 1992 after reading “Santaland Diaries,” his essay about his holiday job as a Macy’s Christmas elf, on NPR. Two years later, he published it in his first collection, Barrel Fever. Fast-forward nearly two decades, seven more books, and a bunch of appearances on This American Life, and it’s easy to understand why Sedaris is loved by so many. Spend a night with the man this Tuesday at 7:30 when he performs at the Fillmore Miami Beach.
Tue., Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., 2011

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