Happy-Go-LuckyHappy-Go-Lucky
What it's about
In his first collection since Calypso, David Sedaris learns to shoot guns with his sister, visits muddy flea markets in Serbia, buys gummy worms to feed ants, and copes with his aging father, the pandemic and a changing world, finding comedy in all of it.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Sedaris is one of America's funniest writers.
You'll love it if you liked
Calypso
When You Are Engulfed in Flames
BossypantsGood to know
It deals with his father's death, so it's more poignant than some of his books.
By the numbers
- Readers51 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller49 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
- #203 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #267 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1557 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Funny, Thought-provoking
More by David Sedaris
When You Are Engulfed in Flames
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and DenimCalypso
The Land and Its PeopleIf you like this, read next
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood
The Office BFFs
I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons
Yes Please
Why Not Me?
The Egg and IExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Happy-Go-Lucky worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #1,557 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Happy-Go-Lucky about?
In his first collection since Calypso, David Sedaris learns to shoot guns with his sister, visits muddy flea markets in Serbia, buys gummy worms to feed ants, and copes with his aging father, the pandemic and a changing world, finding comedy in all of it.
How long does it take to read Happy-Go-Lucky?
About 6 hours (227 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Happy-Go-Lucky?
If you liked it, try Calypso by David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris or Bossypants by Tina Fey.