Honorary Graduates 2025 – David Sedaris

David Sedaris, the humourist, best-selling author and West Sussex resident, has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Literature degree by the University of Chichester in its 2025 graduation ceremony. 

The award-winning writer of books including Me Talk Pretty One Day, Naked, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, Calypso and Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, David has sold over 16 million books in 32 languages. He has also been nominated for five Grammy Awards, and his short story ‘C.O.G.’ was the basis of a 2013 film. Millions of people will know also David’s voice from his appearances on the BBC and National Public Radio.  

In March 2019 David was elected as a member into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2020 the New York Public Library voted Me Talk Pretty One Day one of the 125 most important books of the last 125 years.  

David lives in West Sussex where he is not only known for his literary accomplishments, but also for his efforts to combat litter on local roads. 

When asked what advice he would give to Chichester graduates and aspiring writers, David said: “It’s not my job to give people advice but all I want to say is just to work hard. If you want to be a writer, write. Figure it out, it’s not that hard. Just do it.” 

And in describing how he felt about receiving his doctorate, David said: “When you start writing it’s hard to imagine even having people who will read your book. And so you really don’t think that something you wrote when you were 32 would be read by students and that a university would acknowledge you. 

“Also, my initials are D.R. Sedaris and when I check into a hotel and the receptionist calls me Doctor Sedaris, I never correct them. But I guess now I can legitimately use it. Although I probably should at least know where a pancreas is.”