In this article, we’ll explore 12 authors similar to David Sedaris, whose unique voices echo his signature style.
By diving into their works, you’ll discover new favorites that resonate with Sedaris’ charm and insight, making your reading list even more enjoyable.
12 Authors Similar to David Sedaris
1. Augusten Burroughs
Writing Style & Themes
Burroughs writes memoirs infused with dark humor candidly revealing his chaotic upbringing and personal struggles.Â
His writing is brutally honest yet hilarious, making even painful experiences entertaining.
Notable Books/Series
- Running with Scissors
- Magical Thinking
- Dry
Why Readers Will Love Him
His ability to turn dysfunctional family drama and personal misadventures into laugh-out-loud stories is reminiscent of Sedaris.Â
His mix of wit and raw emotion makes for a compelling read.
Augusten Burroughs’s Website: www.augusten.com
2. Bill Bryson
Writing Style & Themes
Bill Bryson is a master of witty humor. He blends travel, history and science with sharp self-deprecating storytelling, making even mundane topics fascinating.
Notable Books/Series
- A Walk in the Woods
- The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
- Notes from a Small Island
Why Readers Will Love Him
If you love Sedaris’s dry humor and ability to find absurdity in everyday life, Bryson’s storytelling will delight you.Â
His travel narratives are filled with charm, humor and insightful commentary.
Bill Bryson’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7.Bill_BrysonÂ
3. Arthur Bradford
Writing Style & Themes
Bradford writes surreal short stories featuring bizarre yet deeply human characters.Â
His humor is subtle, often emerging from the strange situations his characters find themselves in.
Notable Books/Series
- Dogwalker
- Turtleface and Beyond
Why Readers Will Love Him
Fans of Sedaris’s quirkier essays will appreciate Bradford’s ability to craft absurd unpredictable stories that are both funny and touching.Â
Arthur Bradford’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/61224.Arthur_BradfordÂ
4. David Rakoff
Writing Style & Themes
Rakoff’s essays are deeply personal, sharp and laced with sardonic humor.Â
His writing often explores the absurdities of modern life while maintaining a deeply human and introspective quality.
Notable Books/Series
- Fraud
- Half Empty
- Don’t Get Too Comfortable
Why Readers Will Love Him
If you enjoy Sedaris’s blend of biting wit and self-examination, Rakoff offers a similar mix with an added touch of literary elegance.Â
His dry melancholic humor is both hilarious and thought-provoking.
David Rakoff’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5855.David_RakoffÂ
5. Samantha Irby
Writing Style & Themes
Irby writes brutally honest laugh-out-loud essays about everyday struggles, relationships and her own awkward experiences.Â
Her writing is self-deprecating, sharp and unapologetically real.
Notable Books/Series
- We Are Never Meeting in Real Life
- Meaty
- Wow, No Thank You
Why Readers Will Love Her
She shares Sedaris’s ability to find humor in personal challenges, from social anxiety to health issues.Â
Her confessional down-to-earth style feels like a hilarious conversation with a best friend.
Samantha Irby’s Website: https://www.samanthairby.comÂ
6. Jenny Lawson
Writing Style & Themes
Lawson blends dark humor with deeply personal stories, often tackling mental health and anxiety with an unfiltered witty voice.Â
She finds humor in life’s most awkward and painful moments.
Notable Books/Series
- Let’s Pretend This Never Happened
- Furiously Happy
- Broken (in the Best Possible Way)
Why Readers Will Love Her
As an author like David Sedaris, Lawson transforms personal struggles into comedy gold.Â
Her honesty weird anecdotes and hilarious footnotes make her writing feel fresh and relatable.
Jenny Lawson’s Website: www.thebloggess.com
7. Dave Eggers
Writing Style & Themes
Eggers blends memoir with fiction, often using humor to explore personal experiences and larger social issues.Â
His writing is introspective yet witty with a playful approach to storytelling.
Notable Books/Series
- A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
- What Is the What
- The Circle
Why Readers Will Love Him
Fans of Sedaris’s mix of humor and deep reflection will appreciate Eggers’s ability to balance comedy with emotional depth.Â
His inventive style makes his stories unpredictable and engaging.
Dave Eggers’s Website: www.mcsweeneys.net
8. George Saunders
Writing Style & Themes
Saunders writes satirical short stories that mix dark humor with social commentary.Â
His work often explores the absurdity of modern life while maintaining an emotional core.
Notable Books/Series
- Tenth of December
- Lincoln in the Bardo
- Pastoralia
Why Readers Will Love Him
Like Sedaris, Saunders has a keen eye for human quirks and a gift for making the ordinary feel extraordinary.Â
His humor is both biting and compassionate, making his work deeply memorable.
George Saunders’s Website: www.georgesaundersbooks.com
9. Sloane Crosley
Writing Style & Themes
Crosley writes witty essays about navigating adulthood, relationships and life’s small but absurd challenges.Â
Her humor is self-deprecating and effortlessly cool.
Notable Books/Series
- I Was Told There’d Be Cake
- How Did You Get This Number
- Look Alive Out There
Why Readers Will Love Her
If you enjoy Sedaris’s hilarious takes on everyday life, Crosley’s essays will feel like a natural fit.Â
Her observations are both clever and relatable, with a fresh modern voice.
Sloane Crosley’s Website: www.sloanecrosley.com
10. Sarah Vowell
Writing Style & Themes
Vowell combines humor, history and personal anecdotes, making the past feel alive and wildly entertaining.Â
Her writing is witty, nerdy and full of smart cultural insights.
Notable Books/Series
- Assassination Vacation
- The Wordy Shipmates
- Lafayette in the Somewhat United States
Why Readers Will Love Her
As an author similar to David Sedaris, Vowell has a unique ability to make anything funny, even history.Â
Her dry wit and engaging storytelling make learning about the past feel like a fun irreverent adventure.
Sarah Vowell’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2122.Sarah_VowellÂ
11. Amy Sedaris
Writing Style & Themes
Amy Sedaris, David’s sister, shares his comedic sensibilities but with a quirkier more performative twist.Â
Her books blend humor with satire, often offering offbeat advice on entertaining and homemaking.
Notable Books/Series
- I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence
- Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People
Why Readers Will Love Her
If you love David Sedaris’s humor, Amy’s work will feel like an extension of it, only more theatrical and absurd.Â
Her comedic take on everyday life is wildly imaginative and delightfully weird.
Amy Sedaris’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/2848.Amy_SedarisÂ
12. Tina Fey
Writing Style & Themes
Fey’s writing is smart, satirical and filled with self-deprecating humor.Â
She blends personal anecdotes with sharp social commentary, often focusing on the absurdities of fame and modern womanhood.
Notable Books/Series
- Bossypants
- Mean Girls (screenplay)
Why Readers Will Love Her
Her humor is sharp and effortless much like Sedaris’s, but with a pop culture twist.Â
Fey’s ability to turn life’s awkward moments into comedy makes her memoir both hilarious and relatable.
Tina Fey’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4385839.Tina_FeyÂ
Final Thoughts On Authors Like David Sedaris
If you love David Sedaris’ sharp wit, self-deprecating humor and ability to find comedy in everyday absurdities, these authors offer plenty of laughs and insight.
From Augusten Burroughs’s brutally honest memoirs to Bill Bryson’s hilariously observant travelogues, each of these writers like David Sedaris brings a unique voice to the world of humorous storytelling.
Jenny Lawson and Samantha Irby infuse their personal struggles with raw relatable humor while David Rakoff and Sloane Crosley deliver razor-sharp essays that turn life’s quirks into comedy gold.
These authors similar to David Sedaris prove that humor isn’t just about making us laugh, it’s about helping us see life from a fresh, often ridiculous perspective.