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Themes and Variations

An Essay

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About this listen

2020 SOVAS Award Winner for Audiobook Narration—Author Performance—Best Voiceover

An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller.

In this surprising essay, international bestselling humor writer David Sedaris shares the rewards of a book tour and his devoted readers’ worst-kept secrets.

Dismissed by a bored author at a book signing, a betrayed young man named David Sedaris made a vow. Someday, when it was his turn at the table, he’d connect with his readers. The experience has been even more revealing than he’d hoped.

In this hilarious and perceptive essay, the celebrated humorist reflects on the unusual patterns of forced socialization between author and audience, and the obligations and sometimes surprising returns of not-so-chance encounters with strangers: jokes, secrets, insights, and even charity.

©2020 David Sedaris (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Essays Nonfiction Comedy Funny Witty

Critic reviews

“Author David Sedaris delivers this honest, funny essay with his usual flair…This is a short look at the crazy world we live in by one of its most talented observer-humorists.” (AudioFile Magazine)
All stars
Most relevant
Hilarious and excellent as ever. David is witty, sharply observed and still empathetic. Highly recommended.

Hilarious

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The storyline is gentle, the language beautiful. This is a book to be drawn into, I felt I was there with sights, sounds, sensations. I resisted the book for months thinking it would be worthy and heavy. However, once I started, I was so reluctant to let it finish. On Audible, it was therapeutic and I was transferred to another time.

Lyrical and compelling

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Sedaris on perfect form again in 30 hilarious minutes that'll make you feel warm inside. Inside where? you can figure out after listening.

Hilarious

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David Sedaris is a genius. Listen to this. I hope you'll laugh and also enjoy the insights he describes into the workings of our civilised yet instinctive minds. So honest.

Hilarious and thought provoking....

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Everytime! WHAT a storyteller. David is a wonderful writer and there isn’t a publication of his I haven’t totally devoured straight away and enjoyed thoroughly

Laugh out loud

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