The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Sedaris, David. Happy-Go-Lucky. Little, Brown and Company, 2022.

David Sedaris's Happy-Go-Lucky is a collection of 18 titled essays. Each of the essays possesses its own distinct form and style. The essays also employ both the past and present tenses. The following summary assumes a streamlined mode of explanation and uses the present tense.

In "Active Shooter," Sedaris visits his sister Lisa in North Carolina. After seeing a billboard for the firing range, ProShots, Lisa suggests they try it out. Their odd experience at the range inspires Sedaris's reflections on gun culture and freedom in America.

In "Father Time," after the family grandfather clock falls on Sedaris's father, Lou, Sedaris and his boyfriend, Hugh, travel to North Carolina to see him. Afterwards, Sedaris and Hugh stay at their beach house on Emerald Isle. While there, Sedaris reflects on age, time, and the future.

In "Bruised," while in France one summer, Sedaris struggles to assimilate. Because he speaks no French, he feels incapable of being himself. Then he meets the neighbor boy, Olivier. Olivier has just realized he is gay, and makes advances on Sedaris. Sedaris is afraid of hurting Olivier if he confronts him. He relates to Olivier's experiences as they mirror Sedaris's childhood.

In "A Speech to the Graduates," Sedaris addresses the graduates of Oberlin College. He gives them advice for their future lives, including where to buy the best candles and the importance of writing thank you notes.

In "Hurricane Season," when one of Hugh's beach houses is destroyed in a hurricane, Sedaris comforts him. He does not scold Hugh for his lack of perspective.

In "Highfalutin," Sedaris describes his relationship with his sister Amy. They were close as children and have remained friends throughout adulthood. Sedaris realizes that his definition of happiness is being with Amy.

In "Unbuttoned," during another visit with Lou, Sedaris confronts his father for his selfishness. Lou surprises Sedaris by apologizing and telling him that he has won. Sedaris decides to let go of his bitterness towards Lou.

In "Themes and Variations," during each of Sedaris's reading tours, a theme often emerges. During one tour, the theme is money. Sedaris shares a story with his audiences about giving away $50 bills to those in need. The experience and the stories complicate Sedaris's beliefs about himself.

In "To Serbia with Love," Sedaris describes his trip to Serbia with his friend, Patsy. Throughout the trip, Sedaris reflects upon his blessed life, equating Western privilege to hope.

In "The Vacuum," Sedaris struggles to adjust to the COVID-19 lockdown. He busies himself cleaning the house and taking long walks. When the city reopens, Sedaris realizes that the world can be beautiful.

In "Pearls," as Sedaris's and Hugh's thirtieth anniversary approaches, Sedaris considers the true nature of their relationship.

In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," after George Floyd's death, Sedaris and Amy participate in the street protests in New York. As the protests go on, Sedaris becomes increasingly frustrated with the way white participants are behaving.

In "Happy-Go-Lucky," Sedaris visits his father in North Carolina again. During this visit, he notices how charming and positive his father has become. This is the last time Sedaris sees Lou. The visit has proven that people can change.

In "A Better Place," Sedaris expresses frustration with the way that people express their condolences after his father's death.

In "Lady Marmalade," Sedaris plunges into his childhood memories in order to better understand his father. Although Lou often behaved oddly around his children, Sedaris and his siblings have trouble believing their sister Tiffany when she accuses Lou of having sexually assaulted her. After Tiffany commits suicide, the siblings find an apology note she wrote to Lou.

In "Smile, Beautiful," Sedaris is grateful for the mask mandate because it lets him hide his ugly teeth. After the lockdown ends, he decides to get Invisalign. His newly ordinary teeth boost his confidence.

In "Pussytoes," after their father's funeral, Sedaris, Amy, and their sister, Gretchen, take a walk in the park. During the walk, Sedaris reflects on the closeness of their bond.

In "Lucky-Go-Happy," Sedaris is grateful when he can go back on tour in 2021. His travels around the country prove markedly different from those preceding the pandemic.