At his best, Sedaris is one of the funniest writers you will ever read--and there are a lot of those moments in this collection of essays, short pieces, and observations. One reviewer described the author as someone who "doesn't write like a writer" but someone "who writes for a living." Only a reviewer--or an English teacher--would make a statement like this. Who cares? Who cares if David Sedaris only writes when he has to or if he has to pay a bill? If anybody could do it, everybody would do it.

In any event, Sedaris writes about bizarre things and makes them hilarious. The first story in the book is called "Dentists Without Borders," in which he writes about seeing a dentist while living in France. This isn't the funniest story here, but it is quite humorous. Elsewhere, he writes about his family, his health, his longtime partner and his travels.

Sedaris's writing is seamless and falls easily across the page. He has a unique wit and a singular vision of the world; when these elements come together and he's able to translate them into words, he is one of the best around. This may not be his best book, but if you're already a fan, you must read it.