David Sedaris

I mean, I'm not saying that with pity.

I have other qualities, but I'm not dynamic.

I mean, you know if you are.

Is your sister Amy?

Yeah, Amy's dynamic, yeah.

And what's the distinction you're making there?

Amy is... Well, she's really beautiful and...

she doesn't demand your attention she just gets it you know because you know that's where you want to be turning you know what I mean and I more demand your attention and I think that's one of the differences there like I'm not I'm not anybody you would look at you know like I'm and it helps me move through the world because it helps me be like a spy in a way right and no one's paying attention to me

And I think if everyone were paying attention to you, it would be harder to be a spy, you know, the way that you would need to be.

That makes me think, you know, so much of this new book is you looking back at your younger self.

And you write extensively in the book about, you know, getting older, not handling illness particularly well.

I don't know.

Anytime you think of the future, you think, well, that's just going to be me but older, right?

I'm curious because you're someone who writes so vividly and beautifully about your own life.

You're about to turn 70.

Do you feel that you're looking back more than you have in previous books?

No, I don't think I look back in this book any more than I have in other ones.

I think I do it less, actually.

But, I mean, as you get older, you know, people start dying around you and you develop health problems and, you know, it's just kind of all part of the territory.

But I feel like...