As with most collections, it was kind of hit or miss.
I really liked: The Pamphleteer, Generation Exile, Why McDonald's Fries Taste So Good, and Higher Education.
I love the idea of the series, though, and I'll definitely check out more.

Some of these stories I five-star loved, while others were underwhelming. I love the concept and method by which these stories are picked, however. Students under 25 years old in San Francisco choose their favorites and, based on the popularity of the votes, they end up in these compilations. I will seek out other editions of these anthologies. A great concept and some great stories.

As with any short story collection, my rating is an average. Some stories were five-star listens for me, while others were just "meh." My favorite Tickle-My-Funny-Bone stories were My Fake Job, Local Hipster Over-Explaining Why He Was at the Mall, Stop That Girl, and To Make a Friend, Be a Friend. (Although it was a bit disconcerting to hear a David Sedaris story narrated by someone other than David Sedaris!) The Fascinating award goes to Why McDonald's Fries Taste So Good; while the Break My Heart award goes to Higher Education. Overall, a good quick listen!

The piece "Higher Education" made me cry while I was on my lunch break at work.

I don't why I always get sucked into these collections. They are too little of too much. If I want to find new voices, new reading, I need to look elsewhere.

this volume was pretty much the one that hooked me. found a copy at the library with a different cover and thought it was one i hadn't read, only to find my own copy sitting on the shelf at home. but the stories immediately came back when i thumbed through it. a classic, really.

Nice quickie for the weekend.

I usually don't like short stories b/c if I get really into the story, it ends before I'm ready for it to end. With the exception of one or two in this collection, though, the opposite was true. I was mostly glad they were over. Nothing terribly compelling here--maybe 2002 was just a tough year for short story authors.

truly the best annual collection i know exists.

Goodness what a great book. I claimed this book from a stack that was going to Goodwill after the parents house was cleaned out and I'm glad I claimed it! Each story is unique, which is to be expected as they're all written by separate authors, but each story is really good. I definitely want to check out other books in this series, and I think it's fair to say that this book or really any of the books in the series, would make an excellent gift.