By Paul Carrier
American humorist David Sedaris has been described as the funniest man alive, a claim that certainly is debatable. If we limit ourselves to male writers, some might bestow that honor upon Calvin Trillin, Garrison Keillor or Andy Borowitz, for example.
Still, Sedaris has to be a finalist for the world's most humorous guy, as The Best of Me, a selection of his work, makes clear. Sedaris has made countless speaking appearances over the years, but he may be best known for his essays, which often purport to be autobiographical but seem to stretch the truth for comic effect.
The tone and subject matter of the pieces in this collection vary widely, alternating between fiction and something resembling nonfiction, but Sedaris’ skills always shine through, partly because he is wickedly judgmental.
Although The Best of Me has more than its share of laugh-out-loud anecdotes and observations, some of Sedaris’ material is more weighty and poignant, as when he writes about his much-loved but dysfunctional family.
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