Hey, it's NPR's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbaugh.

If you partake in this season's festivities, I feel like there's two ways to pregame Christmas.

You can try to get a bunch of stuff done at the last minute and really lean into how much this time of year actually kind of sucks.

Or you can kick off your shoes and get into your jamies

and snuggle your way into the holiday. We've got both flavors for you today on the pod.

First, an NPR holiday tradition. Humors David Sedaris's Santa Land Diaries is a collection

of stories about his time in the holiday trenches as a department store elf. It first aired on Morning Edition in 1992, and they've played it every year since.

I got to say, all these years later, it still holds up as funny and insightful.

So here's David Sedaris, on his turn as Crumpet the Elf.

In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life.

Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors.

On our new show, Sources and Methods.

NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people

helping you understand why distant events matter here at home.

Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your

podcasts. I wear green velvet knickers, a forest green velvet smock, and a perky little hat

decorated with spangles. This is my work uniform.

I have spent the last several days sitting in a crowded windowless Macy's classroom undergoing the first phases of elf training.

You can be an entrance elf, a water cooler elf, a bridge elf, train elf, maze elf, island elf,

magic window elf, usher elf, cash register elf, or exit elf. We were given a

demonstration of various positions in action, acted out by returning elves who were so on stage and goofy

that it made me a little sick to my stomach. I don't know that I could look anyone in the eye and

...