CalypsoCalypso
Score Modern
What it's about
When David Sedaris buys a beach house on the Carolina coast, which he names the Sea Section, he imagines relaxing vacations with his family. And it's idyllic, except that he can't escape himself: middle age, his father's decline and his sister's suicide all come along. It's his most personal and darkly hilarious collection.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Many readers consider it Sedaris's best book.
You'll love it if you liked
When You Are Engulfed in Flames
The Land and Its People
A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and ArgumentsGood to know
It's very funny and sometimes very sad. The audiobook, read by Sedaris, is a treat.
By the numbers
- Readers59 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller62 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #165 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #546 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1049 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by David Sedaris
When You Are Engulfed in Flames
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and DenimThe Land and Its People
Happy-Go-LuckyIf you like this, read next
Between the World and Me
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
Educated: A Memoir
When Breath Becomes Air
The Passage of Power
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert OppenheimerExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Calypso worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #1,049 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Calypso about?
When David Sedaris buys a beach house on the Carolina coast, which he names the Sea Section, he imagines relaxing vacations with his family. And it's idyllic, except that he can't escape himself: middle age, his father's decline and his sister's suicide all come along. It's his most personal and darkly hilarious collection.
How long does it take to read Calypso?
About 7 hours (272 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Calypso?
If you liked it, try When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris, The Land and Its People by David Sedaris or A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again: Essays and Arguments by David Foster Wallace.