• Me Talk Pretty One Day

  • By: David Sedaris
  • Narrated by: David Sedaris
  • Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (12,017 ratings)

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Me Talk Pretty One Day  By  cover art

Me Talk Pretty One Day

By: David Sedaris
Narrated by: David Sedaris
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Publisher's summary

David Sedaris' new collection of essays - including live recordings! - tells a most unconventional life story. It begins with a North Carolina childhood filled with speech-therapy classes ("There was the lisp, of course, but more troubling than that was my voice itself, with its excitable tone and high, girlish pitch") and unwanted guitar lessons taught by a midget. From budding performance artist ("The only crimp in my plan was that I seemed to have no talent whatsoever") to "clearly unqualified" writing teacher in Chicago, Sedaris' career leads him to New York City and eventually, of all places, France. His move to Paris poses a number of challenges, chief among them his inability to speak the language. Arriving a "spooky man-child" capable of communicating only through nouns, he undertakes language instruction that leads him ever deeper into cultural confusion. Whether describing the Easter bunny to puzzled classmates or watching a group of men play soccer with a cow, Sedaris brings a view and a voice like no other to every unforgettable encounter.
©2000 by David Sedaris, All Rights Reserved (P)2000 by Time Warner AudioBooks, A Division of Time Warner Trade Publishing

Critic reviews

"At his best, he makes you laugh out loud, which indeed may be worth the price of admission." (The New York Times)

Featured Article: The top 100 memoirs of all time


All genres considered, the memoir is among the most difficult and complex for a writer to pull off. After all, giving voice to your own lived experience and recounting deeply painful or uncomfortable memories in a way that still engages and entertains is a remarkable feat. These autobiographies, often narrated by the authors themselves, shine with raw, unfiltered emotion sure to resonate with any listener. But don't just take our word for it—queue up any one of these listens, and you'll hear exactly what we mean.

What listeners say about Me Talk Pretty One Day

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8,080
  • 4 Stars
    2,372
  • 3 Stars
    907
  • 2 Stars
    341
  • 1 Stars
    317
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    394
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    134
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,898
  • 4 Stars
    1,653
  • 3 Stars
    616
  • 2 Stars
    255
  • 1 Stars
    196

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Just too good.

You either get David, or you don't. I'd like to count myself amoungst the former. If you like his unique style, he's a singular treat.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Hysterical

Who lives like this? Better yet, who lives like this, can admit to it and make it so side-achingly funny? Definitely his best book in my opinion, and all the better to hear him read it himself.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Simply Wonderful

This book is the funniest thing I have heard in a long time. I laughed so hard at times, I could barely breathe.
Simply wonderful!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Bizarre and fun - LOVE it

I find myself laughing out loud in sort of a snort and chortle way... completely unexpected. This book takes you on a wild and wonderfully colorful journey through this bizarre author's life/mind/family. I absolutely LOVE this book and HIGHLY recommend it.

It was recommended to me a few years ago by my very intelligent and highly evolved daughter (she's single and gorgeous if anyone is interested!) My only regret (about this book, not about life in general) is that I waited so long to get it. I am seriously looking forward to reading the rest of his works. YOU'LL LOVE IT.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

a benchmark selection

A heart rendingly honest and poignantly delivered collection of autobiographic essays. Here is revealed the story of a wonderfully jaded, neurotic and self effacing eletist whose complex inner and family life provide ample fodder for comedy without smacking of exhibitionist voyerism. All the same, typically sobering subject matter is masterfully orchestrated into uproarously hillarious and irreverent fare. This gets a 5/5 not only for the dissarming humor but also for literary merit on par with the best in genre. If Catch 22-like humor gets you ticklish, a listen to Me Talk Pretty One Day will get you crying uncle.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

me love me talk pretty one day

Hoot this book she was. David is funny from the first line to the last making fun of conventions of acceptable speach. Fun listen.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant, masterfully written,

Love, this book, it's AWESOME
Incredibley entertaining,
Comedic Nonfiction
Storytelling Genius,
Love Him
💯
💕

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I loved it.

I can’t remember laughing out loud to too many books, but I did to this wonderful book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Do not listen to this book while driving

It is too hilarious and the tears running down my eyes almost made me crash

Fantastic book leaves you wanting more

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

funny and weird

Odd stories, funny how he describes things. Interesting perspective and self deprecating style. Would reccomend

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