I will forever be in love with the mind of the late David Rakoff. It is a bizarre notion to miss someone you never met or knew in any real meaningful way, but I do. I miss his presence, his clarity of thought, his razor sharp wit, and the voice of reason he lent to an ever dwindling chorus.

David Rakoff's performance on This American Life's live-to-theaters "The Invisible Made Visible"  brought me to tears, as did the news of his death just three months thereafter. Still, I'd never read any of his books, and might not have had my e-library not recommended this one.

I found this collection of essays thoughtful and entertaining, with a self-aware ascerbity similar to the one found in David Sedaris. I didn't find the stories quite as funny as the other David's, though; unlike in certain of the latter's collections, for example, I never had to pause my reading because I was laughing too hard to go on.

Ugh. Don't even bother.

The title has nothing to do with the content. I was expecting a send up of all the crazy things the upper middle class now considers "essential".

No. This is just a much of personal mini-memoirs about nothing. Oh look at me, I went to and hated Puppety of the Penis! Oh look at me, I faked being a "pool embassador" to write this book. Isn't it hilarious that I ordered room service at the hotel two doors down from where I "work"? Oh look at me, I stayed up til 4 on a scavanger hunt in NYC and was happiest when I climbed into bed! Oh look at me, I rode the Concord and Hooters Airline and now I will tell you aaaaall about how they are different. "Santaland Diaries" this is NOT.

The back of the book says, "He can make you laugh, and then, suddenly, there comes a passage that touches you with wonder." Yeah, wonder of how he ever got a book deal... gah.

Granted, the writing is good. He is certainly talanted. But he has nothing to SAY.

The only good feelings I have towards this book is that I got it from the library, and it didn't cost me anything (except my time).

Good lord, that was boring! I can't even describe what this book was about. A half dozen or so chapters on random topics that have no relevance to each other and no tie-in to how the book is described on its cover.

There was also nothing funny at all about the book ("bitingly funny"? "The belly laughs start at page 7"? WHAT?), and I could tell it was going to be dull from the first few pages on. I putzed through because I didn't have another book at the time to fall back on, and I kept thinking "Maybe the next chapter will be better."

I'm being generous with giving this 2 stars because there were a couple chapters that were semi-interesting (the last one in particular), but really...don't bother. Complete waste of time.

Rakoff writes such lovely sentences, that even though I wasn't terribly interested in some of the essays in this book that didn't have to do with politics, it was still a delight to sit back and listen to him talk about his life in his own beautiful words.

2.75 stars
Rounded up to 3 stars
I have been wanting to read this book for a couple of years now. After the large endowment left by someone this past year, the library has got new books and other materials (and increased hours of operation). So I was so excited to see that this book was finally available. An Audio book. I cannot scan chapter headings, read a few short sections to see if I really want to read this book. I have to take it as it is or I have no Don't Get Too Comfortable: The Indignities of Coach Class, The Torments of Low Thread Count, The Never-Ending Quest for Artisanal Olive Oil, and Other First World Problems. So I took the audio book home. The audio is not compete, instead it has selections from the printed book. It could be selections I appreciate less than the selections omitted. I am weird enough to like what others may not generally like. But I must do it or be dissatisfied with myself.
I did find a few selections to appreciate, not even most selections. David Rakoff who styled himself many types of writer, seems to be most often known as a New York writer of auto-biographical essays.

So did I like the book after all? Sort of. The-becoming-a US American-citizen part was entertaining and informative. The part about being on a fast and having an uncomfortable relationship with his food guru was interesting and thought provoking. The part about cryonics--the freezing of human bodies for later--was horrifying and thought-provoking. The unifying idea: The ever-lengthening list of more, better, bigger creates personal hells. (I am not giving it all away as this idea is expressed on the backside of audio case.)

Welcome young man to Ammeeerrricaa.
The US, of course.

I can never get enough of David Sedaris, but I’ve read all of his books so I was debating listening to some of them again when I stumbled upon humorist David Rakoff. I read that his style of narrating his own books was a reason to listen to this as an audiobook. That’s how I feel about David Sedaris, but these David’s are not the same. Rakoff definitely has his own style and voice, and I very much enjoyed, chuckled and laughed listening to his work. Especially, his political observations regarding the era of George W. Bush and my own personal thoughts on where our country is today. Wide range of topics incorporated throughout. Good stuff here...I may need to find another one of to listen to.
*Edit note: I just read more about Rakoff and learned he died at age 47 in 2012.

Like Sedaris, Rakoff writes in a dry, self-deprecating voice that makes him immediately endearing (unless you have a problem with left-wing gay men). These relaxed essays don't rely on family anecdotes as much as Sedaris, nor are they as sentimental. Rakoff is a humorist first and the satirical observations on Americanism and a culture of excess make for great light reading that's guilt free, so long as you don't pay $50/lb for imported sea salt from France.

David Rakoff makes me chuckle and chortle oh so heartily. I imagine myself to be laughing at the things smart people laugh at when they read the NEW YORKER!

very clever, this guy. A supreme command of the english language, a rapier wit and some pretty cool observations. A little over the top (too cute?) at times, but I really enjoyed it.

I loved Don't Get Too Comfortable. It's a book of humorous essays in the style of David Sedaris, but almost sillier. In the collection of a dozen essays, I know I'll remember more than half, which is a damn good percentage in my book.

My favorite essays mocked cuisine culture at Chez Panisse, log cabin Republicans, postmortem cytogenetic freezing, the act of becoming a United States citizen, and Martha Stewart-inspired crafting. I laughed out loud every time I picked it up. The stories that aren't hilarious are still inspired and well observed.

These essays are solidly in the "I write essays about myself and things that happen to my upper-middle-class self blah blah" category, but Rakoff's self-awareness makes it totally palatable and drains away any pretentiousness. I think he is the best of the This American Life writers and their ilk... certainly I think he is a better wordsmith than Vowell or Sedaris, although truthfully I kind of love them all anyway.

"The mark of a true friend is someone who remembers you from sophomore year and doesn't hold it against you that you painted a huge copy of van Gogh's sunflowers on the wall of your dorm room, for example."

I probably wouldn't read anything more from this author, but the book has its good moments. More interesting than funny, if I recall correctly. I think there's one piece in here where he went to one of Tom Brown's programs. I found it especially interesting because my mom was seriously into Tom Brown for years and went through the rigors of many of his outdoor programs.