Happy-Go-Lucky

By: David Sedaris

Narrated by: David Sedaris

An Audie Award Winner

David Sedaris, the “champion storyteller,” (Los Angeles Times) returns with his first new collection of personal essays since the bestselling Calypso.

Back when restaurant menus were still printed on paper, and wearing a mask—or not—was a decision made mostly on Halloween, David Sedaris spent his time doing normal things. As Happy-Go-Lucky opens, he is learning to shoot guns with his sister, visiting muddy flea markets in Serbia, buying gummy worms to feed to ants, and telling his nonagenarian father wheelchair jokes.

But then the pandemic hits, and like so many others, he’s stuck in lockdown, unable to tour and read for audiences, the part of his work he loves most. To cope, he walks for miles through a nearly deserted city, smelling only his own breath. He vacuums his apartment twice a day, fails to hoard anything, and contemplates how sex workers and acupuncturists might be getting by during quarantine.

As the world gradually settles into a new reality, Sedaris too finds himself changed. His offer to fix a stranger’s teeth rebuffed, he straightens his own, and ventures into the world with new confidence. Newly orphaned, he considers what it means, in his seventh decade, no longer to be someone’s son. And back on the road, he discovers a battle-scarred America: people weary, storefronts empty or festooned with Help Wanted signs, walls painted with graffiti reflecting the contradictory messages of our time: Eat the Rich. Trump 2024. Black Lives Matter.

In Happy-Go-Lucky, David Sedaris once again captures what is most unexpected, hilarious, and poignant about these recent upheavals, personal and public, and expresses in precise language both the misanthropy and desire for connection that drive us all. If we must live in interesting times, there is no one better to chronicle them than the incomparable David Sedaris.

©2022 David Sedaris (P)2022 Little, Brown & Company

Critic reviews

"Sedaris's latest update on his family and society brings the funny. Still, there's growing depth and empathy in his writing and delivery. Sure, shooting guns with his sister and visiting his nonagenarian father bring laugh-out-loud moments. But profound reflections also pepper his writing as his tone and delivery match his heartrending observations. Sedaris chronicles the Covid-19 pandemic and all the absurdities of reactions to precautions. His voice matches the frustration and bewilderment of lockdown and life behind a mask." (AudioFile)

“A sweet-and-sour set of pieces on loss, absurdity, and places they intersect… Sedaris remains stubbornly irreverent even in the face of pandemic lockdowns and social upheaval.”—Kirkus Reviews

Always 5 out of 5 stars

I love everything David Sedaris writes. I was dissapointed that so much of the book was previously published in The New Yorker though.

I enjoyed the story about his father's inappropriate behavior. I know that's horrible to say, but I've been reading his books since he was just breaking out in the 90s, and while he is a master of self depreciation, I've always sensed huge intentional gaps about his family dynamic. Obviously, the family has a right to their privacy, so I truly appreciate his willingness to share such difficult topics with us all.

I miss stories about his mother. It is clear in his essays that he loved her so deeply, and even when he relays negative details he does it with such care and delicacy. I enjoy her stories immensely.

If only I could tell a story like that

It is so enjoyable to listen to David Sedaris tell stories. Some people might find him offensive but if anyone’s honest with themselves they know they think the same way… Sick and twisted from time to time. I hope he takes it as a compliment. The only thing that made me feel a bit bummed out was that I had listen to a bunch of his talkshow and podcast appearances before listening to his books and the stories do repeat so lesson learned… But this is also my first book of his that I have read/listened to so if I go back to the beginning and read some of his early work I’m sure I will be delighted through and through

His best yet. Funny, dark, thoughtful.

This collection of stories are easily some of my favorites. Funny, touching, heartbreaking, enlightening. Moving through family laughs, dysfunction, abuse, and love, David Sedaris speaks to so much of what so many of us understand. There are cringey stories and stories that help frame some of the horrible events we all endured during the pandemic. He also walks us through his experience grieving the death of his father, who had somewhat of a transformation near the end of his life. This not uncommon theme - abusive young father to loving elderly father - is thoughtfully explored. Each topic in the book is truly well crafted with his trademark acerbic humor cutting right through the darkest moments. I enjoyed every minute spent listening to this book.

Never tire of this guy

As weird as he sometimes gets, I find myself nodding in agreement, laughing in recognition of an insightful truth, delighting in his outrage at annoying people, and marveling at his curiosity. And despite his umbrage with the inanity of fellow Americans (or maybe because of it), whenever I listen to him speak David Sedaris restores my faith in humanity.

Sedaris never fails

I enjoyed this read. An ironic review of current events. Lots of laughs and a few tears.

Amazing

Amazing as always. David is a treasure! He never let's an audience down. His narration only adds to this gem.

Sedaris at His Very Best

If you have followed David Sedaris, let me assure you as a whole this is David’s best work. The narration is a bit more somber than for previous books. As he traveled around this COVID nation and saw Lou through his 90s, a seriousness and tiredness crept into his narration. But the indomitable Sedaris family is still portrayed to bring on laughing outbursts as you drive alone in traffic or as you’re plugged in - with others wondering what’s so funny. This book has a special poignancy that only a stage of life like this can bring.

I would caution against this as your first Sedaris book. (Calypso would get you filled in sufficiently.) Happy-Ho-Lucky must be an award winner. This is another of David’s going in my top ten audios. An American story for all time. Get this book!

Wonderful David Sedaris

Whether you’re a fan of David Sedaris or not, this collection of his musings is delightful and engaging. Personally,I am a huge fan, and was thrilled to listen to this.

Everything you are hoping for

I have been hoarding my Audible credits but as soon as I saw this book I knew it was one I needed. It did not disappoint. One of the best things about a David Sedaris book is that you also get David Sedaris as the reader so it’s a double pleasure.
This book touches on the weird pandemic-inflected life we have all been leading but also provides more background on people and places from earlier essays.
If you are a fan, don’t hesitate. If some of his earlier work has featured too much self-destructive behavior for you, this one is much more comfortable without compromising his keen observations and humor.

The best

I love that he makes it ok to be an asshole. I can relate. He’s the best.