Naked (book)
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | David Sedaris |
| Products | Essay collection |
| Owner | Little, Brown and Company |
Naked is a 1997 collection of essays by American humorist David Sedaris, marking his second published work after 1994's Barrel Fever. The book delves into his unconventional upbringing in suburban Raleigh, North Carolina, his college years marked by substance use, and his youthful adventures reminiscent of Kerouac's travels. Many essays were initially crafted for NPR's This American Life but were extensively revised for the book to incorporate darker and more vivid elements. Published by Little, Brown and Company, the volume achieved the No. 6 position on the New York Times best-seller list in the Hardcover nonfiction category.
Critics lauded the collection for its sharp wit and dark comedic tone, particularly highlighting Sedaris's family stories and his portrayal of his mother before her passing. A review from The New York Times observed a stylistic evolution from Barrel Fever, revealing a deeper emotional complexity beneath Sedaris’s humor. In 1998, Naked was honored with the Randy Shilts Award for Gay Non-Fiction presented by Publishing Triangle. Two essays from this collection were subsequently included in later works by Sedaris.
Background
After the acclaim garnered by his debut Barrel Fever in 1994, David Sedaris experienced increased public recognition. While initially maintaining his job cleaning apartments in New York City, he resigned during the creation of Naked to dedicate himself entirely to writing. To prevent isolation during this period, he composed the book across various settings such as France, Chicago, the Yaddo artist residency, and notably a nudist colony featured in the essay titled "Naked."
Much of the content focuses on Sedaris’s family life and childhood experiences in Raleigh, North Carolina. Although he admitted to occasional memory lapses and some exaggeration, he stressed that authentic life events provided the richest source material, especially from his middle-class suburban background. He made minor adjustments to how his family was depicted but maintained that he began with truthful details before amplifying them to avoid creating hollow narratives. His mother’s portrayal remained nearly verbatim, supported by decades of diary entries that also helped him render an accurate depiction of his father. Sedaris addressed his mother’s death with the intent of presenting a fresh take on a frequently revisited topic.
In "I Like Guys," Sedaris recounts his coming out experience with the goal of offering a distinctive perspective amid numerous similar narratives. He considered his sexual orientation as just one facet of his identity and aimed for Naked to honestly reflect "the kind of homo that I am," emphasizing humor over sexuality.
Several essays originally appeared on NPR's This American Life, where broadcasting restrictions limited darker content. For the book version, Sedaris reinserted these elements to produce a more vivid and truthful account.
Contents
- "Chipped Beef"
- Describes the Sedaris family's early years and David’s aspirations; they are middle class.
- "A Plague of Tics"
- Narrates David’s childhood development of nervous tics and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
- "Get Your Ya-Ya's Out!"
- David’s grandmother Ya-Ya moves in following an injury.
- "Next of Kin"
- A pornographic novel circulates among siblings until their mother confiscates it.
- "Cyclops"
- Family cautionary tales shared by David’s relatives.
- "The Women's Open"
- David’s sister experiences her first menstrual period at a golf tournament.
- "True Detective"
- David’s mother and sister are captivated by detective shows; David attempts amateur sleuthing.
- "Dix Hill"
- David volunteers at Dorothea Dix Hospital, encountering diverse patient behaviors.
- "I Like Guys"
- At a summer camp in Greece, teenage David comes to terms with being gay.
- "The Drama Bug"
- David explores acting after exposure to Shakespeare, adopting a British accent.
- "Dinah, the Christmas Whore"
- During Christmas break, David works in a cafeteria; he and sister Lisa assist a distressed coworker.
- "Planet of the Apes"
- Inspired by the movie, David takes up hitchhiking.
- "The Incomplete Quad"
- Living in a dorm for disabled students, David hitchhikes while posing as newlyweds with a quadriplegic woman.
- "C.O.G."
- David carves Oregon-shaped stone clocks and partners with a coworker to sell them locally.
- "Something for Everyone"
- David renovates an apartment complex owned by Uta.
- "Ashes"
- David’s sister gets married while their mother Sharon battles terminal cancer.
- "Naked"
- David visits a nudist colony.
The essay "Dinah, the Christmas Whore" was later included in Sedaris's Holidays on Ice, while "The Incomplete Quad" was republished in 2020's The Best of Me.
Reception
Naked was released by Little, Brown and Company on March 17, 1997, and entered the The New York Times Hardcover nonfiction list at number 14 on April 6. The book stayed on the list for seven weeks, reaching its highest position of number 6 in its third and fourth weeks. Craig Seligman of The New York Times commended the collection for its combination of humor and emotional depth, remarking that all seventeen essays provoked laughter. Meanwhile, Kirkus Reviews praised the work as instantly engaging, emphasizing Sedaris’s sharp wit.
The essays focusing on Sedaris’s family received particular attention for being both the most humorous and the most poignant, with his mother standing out as a memorable figure. Both The New York Times and Kirkus referred to her as a comedic heroine, especially highlighting the essay depicting her last months for its skillful blend of gravity and humor. According to Publishers Weekly, this portrayal ranks among Sedaris’s finest accomplishments.
Conversely, the essay titled "Naked," centered on a nudist colony, attracted criticism from multiple reviewers for feeling somewhat forced; Seligman found Sedaris’s unease to be revealing but occasionally off-putting.
According to Kirkus Reviews, Naked revisited the autobiographical format seen in Sedaris’s earlier work Barrel Fever, whereas Seligman interpreted it as a progression toward exploring more profound themes beneath the humor—particularly in essays dealing with family bereavement and emotional restraint. Publishers Weekly observed that only two essays matched the comedic intensity of Barrel Fever, with most pieces leaning toward a more understated form of comedy.
Seligman concluded that Sedaris effectively exposed himself through these writings, achieving a balance between bleak moments and humor that leaves readers laughing heartily. Publishers Weekly recommended the collection for its mixture of nostalgia and bawdy humor, while Kirkus Reviews described it as "splendid stuff."
In 1998, Naked received the Randy Shilts Award for Gay Non-Fiction from Publishing Triangle. The book’s cover, designed by Chip Kidd, has been celebrated as iconic by Time magazine and listed among the most recognizable book covers by Spine Magazine.
Two relatives voiced objections: Sedaris’s sister Tiffany expressed a desire for greater representation despite initially declining to be included; their father disapproved of the depiction of their late mother. Sedaris maintained that she would have appreciated the book and would have accompanied him on the promotional tour had she been alive.