Theft by Finding

By David F. Swensen

One of the most anticipated books of 2017: Boston Globe, New York Times Book Review, New York's "Vulture", The Week, Bustle, BookRiot
An NPR Best Book of 2017An AV Club Favorite Book of 2017A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2017A Goodreads Choice Awards nominee

David Sedaris tells all in a book that is, literally, a lifetime in the making.

For forty years, David Sedaris has kept a diary in which he records everything that captures his attention-overheard comments, salacious gossip, soap opera plot twists, secrets confided by total strangers. These observations are the source code for his finest work, and through them he has honed his cunning, surprising sentences.

Now, Sedaris shares his private writings with the world. Theft by Finding, the first of two volumes, is the story of how a drug-abusing dropout with a weakness for the International House of Pancakes and a chronic inability to hold down a real job became one of the funniest people on the planet.

Written with a sharp eye and ear for the bizarre, the beautiful, and the uncomfortable, and with a generosity of spirit that even a misanthropic sense of humor can't fully disguise, Theft By Finding proves that Sedaris is one of our great modern observers. It's a potent reminder that when you're as perceptive and curious as Sedaris, there's no such thing as a boring day.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316154725
• ISBN13: 9780316154727
• Release Date: May 2017
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 1.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Humor & Heart

If you’re a fan of David Sedaris’ humor, you may agree that "Theft by Finding" is both hilarious and raw, offering an intimate look at his evolution as a writer and observer of life's peculiarities. It’s a captivating read that highlights how the mundane can be endlessly fascinating—and genuinely funny. His wit shines through even the smallest details, and his style reminds me a bit of Ziwe Fumudoh’s—sharp, fearless, and unafraid...

Very interesting

I still keep thinking about the part about him feeding those spiders. Very strange man. Interesting mind. Great with words to describe his odd observations

Not up to Mr. Sedaris' usual hilarity

Did not think this ranked in the author's top 10. While enjoyable, it did not have the manic crazed humor of his other work.