The 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 or Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood
Good to know
The essays stand alone, so it's easy to dip into. The audiobook, read by Sedaris, is a favorite.
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 2,819 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.
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.
#1 New York Times bestseller (1 week at #1).
Where it ranks
- #177 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #208 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1179 of the 2,819 books we rank
Bestseller
- #1 New York Times bestseller (1 week at #1)
- 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists since 2026
Reads as
True story
More by David Sedaris
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Dress Your Family in Corduroy and DenimIf you like this, read next
I'm Glad My Mom Died
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Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice
Liliana's Invincible Summer: A Sister's Search for Justice