The writer, creator, and daughter of Larry David, on her new collection of essays, ‘No One Asked For This’
Cazzie David, writer and creator of the popular web series Eighty-Sixed, and daughter of the acclaimed Larry David, has a knack for writing animatedly about the anxieties many of us won’t voice out loud.
Her self-deprecating humor shines in No One Asked For This, her new collection of essays that reveal intimate, and often relatable, details of her life growing up during the social media age. She sat down with Wake-Up Call to discuss the book, her favorite episode of Seinfeld, and more…
Wake-Up Call: I love how unafraid you are to really just get real in this book. How did you decide which personal stories you wanted to tell?
Cazzie David: I like stories that have a lot of irony in them, moments where I set out to do something, and then get the exact opposite in turn. I find those stories of disappointment to be funny for the reader.
In your essays, you touch on everything from hypersensitivity to social anxiety, to just being a young woman in this day and age. What do you hope readers get from these reflections?
In a lot of ways, I wanted to make a statement on the current reality of young girls from their perspective. I wanted to show the insecurities we endure from growing up during this time. It’s super hard to come of age when you’re constantly watching everyone post about them doing the same.
Plus, so many people our age deal with these mental health struggles — what are some things you’ve found have helped you grapple with them?
The only thing that truly helps me specifically is to write about them. If I can make something feel ridiculous, occasionally I can see it as actually ridiculous. In the moment something can be awful, but if you can transcend it into something others can laugh at or connect with, it can make these moments worth the embarassment.
What was the most difficult essay in the book to write? And why? What’s your favorite essay?
My favorite essay is probably ‘Ex Dysmorphia’ because it is just a really good example of obsessive thoughts that were specific to my situation, but ones that I think everyone can relate to.
The most challenging for me to write was probably the last chapter, ‘Thanksgiving.’ There was some heavier stuff in there and when I’m not trying to just be funny with something, I have less faith that it’s good. My strength is certainly not beautiful prose.
In the book, you talk about how you’re more similar to your father than your sister is. How do you think he and/or his work may have inspired your writing style?
He has influenced me in so many ways but in terms of my writing, I think the desire to wrap everything up in a bow is something I try to do. No one is as good at it as he is. And I think it’s the hardest thing to pull off in comedy.
What’s your favorite episode of Seinfeld?
This is a really obvious answer but The Contest.
What are three books you’ve liked recently?
Luster by Raven Leilani, The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel, and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.
