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Essayist David Sedaris's "Barrel Fever"

The playwright, housecleaner and former elf to Santa launched his radio commentator career with his SantaLand Diaries, broadcast during NPR's "Morning Edition" in 1992. His humor has been described as a "caustic mix of J. D. Salinger and John Waters." Along with his sister, Amy Sedaris, he wrote the play "Stitches," which was described as a "macabre and hilarious social satire." Now he's made his literary debut with a new collection of stories and essays, called "Barrel Fever."

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Other segments from the episode on August 30, 1994

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, August 30, 1994: Interview with Sherwin Nuland; Interview with David Sedaris; Review of Richard Holmes's book "Doctor Johnson and Mr. Savage."
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22:24

The Myth of the Dignified Death

Dr Sherwin Nuland is a surgeon who teaches at Yale. In his recent book, "How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter," he writes that few of us have an understanding of the way people die; 80 percent of Americans die in the hospital, and, for the most part their deaths are concealed. Nuland hopes to de-mythologize the process of dying by emphasizing its biological and clinical reality.

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16:18

David Sedaris Collects His Stories in a New Book.

Playwright, NPR commentator, housecleaner and former elf to Santa, Davis Sedaris. He launched his radio commentator career with his "SantaLand Diaries," broadcast during NPR's "Morning Edition in 1992. His humor has been described as a "caustic mix of J. D.

Interview

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A humorist faces life with Stage 4 lung cancer: 'The future disappeared for me'

Terry Gross interviews humorist, memoirist and actress ANNABELLE GURWITCH about her new memoir called The End of My Life is Killing Me: The Unexpected Joys of a Cancer Slacker. It is a national bestseller.

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