The Land and its People

by David Sedaris · 2026

In this sharply observed, laugh‑out‑loud collection, David Sedaris journeys from the familiar streets of Massachusetts to the far‑flung corners of Guatemala, Vatican City, and Kenya, turning each odd encounter into a meditation on belonging, aging, and the ties that bind us. From caring for his boyfriend Hugh after hip‑replacement surgery to challenging a friend to eat a truck tire, from confiding in a Duolingo bot about his family to riding a horse named Tequila, Sedaris blends his trademark wit with tender honesty. As he counts the names in his address book and confronts the inevitable losses of time, he finds humor in dog bites, train‑car insults, and midnight street encounters, reminding readers that even the most mundane moments can reveal the profound, often absurd, landscape of the land and its people.