The Land and Its PeopleThe Land and Its People
What it's about
David Sedaris' new collection of essays finds him trying to be a caretaker after his boyfriend Hugh's hip-replacement surgery, buying his sister a cape, discussing his brother with a jaded Duolingo bot, and riding a horse named Tequila in Guatemala as he adds to his list of countries visited. There's sadness too: scrolling through his address book, he counts how many friends have died.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2026. Sedaris is one of America's funniest writers, and these essays are as sharp and surprising as ever.
You'll love it if you liked
Calypso
Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African ChildhoodGood to know
The essays stand alone, so it's easy to dip into. The audiobook, read by Sedaris, is a favorite.
By the numbers
- Readers64 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller39 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz35 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
- #177 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #208 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1179 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 DenimCalypso
Happy-Go-LuckyIf you like this, read next
I'm Glad My Mom Died
King: A Life
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Things in Nature Merely Grow
Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice
Liliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for JusticeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Land and Its People worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2026. It ranks #1,179 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Land and Its People about?
David Sedaris' new collection of essays finds him trying to be a caretaker after his boyfriend Hugh's hip-replacement surgery, buying his sister a cape, discussing his brother with a jaded Duolingo bot, and riding a horse named Tequila in Guatemala as he adds to his list of countries visited. There's sadness too: scrolling through his address book, he counts how many friends have died.
How long does it take to read The Land and Its People?
About 7 hours (261 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Land and Its People?
If you liked it, try Calypso by David Sedaris, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris or Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah.