Somewhere between the serious scholarship and the study carrels, our collection has a secret life. Some of our books have titles so ridiculous, you’ll want to check whether they’re real. You’ll never find a book like these by accident online. Browsing our physical collection means stumbling on something unexpected, like a title that makes you laugh out loud or a cover that makes you do a double take. Stop by, wander the stacks, and see what jumps out.
The field guide to dumb birds of the whole stupid world by Matt Kracht
Part bird guide, part comedy routine. This book catalogues birds with the unfiltered commentary of someone who has spent far too long studying them. It’s very funny, and it isn’t shy about language, so consider yourself warned. Pair it with a real field guide (or don’t).
If Nietzsche were a narwhal : what animal intelligence
reveals about human stupidity by Justin Gregg
As someone who just had the pleasure of seeing Justin Gregg speak at a conference, I highly recommend this book. He asks whether humans are as brilliant as we think we are, and what other animals can teach us about our habit of getting things wrong. It’s a smart, readable look at animal minds.
Will my cat eat my eyeballs? : and other questions about dead bodies by Caitlin Doughty
Caitlin Doughty, a mortician, answers real questions from curious kids (and adults) about death and what happens to our bodies afterward. The title question is answered honestly, along with plenty of others you were too embarrassed to ask. It’s morbid in the most charming way.
Poking the Squid: What We Can Learn from Animal Sex by Perrin Roosevelt Ireland
Yes, it’s in our collection, and yes, you can check it out. This book is a tour of the strange, surprising and occasionally scary ways animals reproduce. If you’ve ever wondered how nature got so weird, here’s your answer.
A meteorite killed my cow: stuff that happens when space
rocks hit Earth by Richard Greenwood
You might not want to think about it, but space rocks really do land where they shouldn’t. This book looks at what happens when the universe drops by unannounced and the things that happen to be in the way.
99 ways to die: and how to avoid them by Ashley Alker
A cheerfully grim look at the many ways life can go wrong, paired with practical advice for staying on the right side of statistics. Can be read as entertainment or a safety manual.
Slow death by rubber duck: how the toxicity of everyday life affects our health by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie
Despite the title, this is a serious look at the chemicals hiding in ordinary household items, from bath toys to shampoo. The authors even use themselves as test subjects. The kind of book that makes you read labels differently.
Humble pi : when math goes wrong in the real world by Matt Parker
Former math teach Matt Parker collects the times numbers have let us down, from bridges that wobbled to spreadsheets that sank budgets. The mistakes are real and the consequences range from hilarious to alarming. Math wasn’t your thing (it wasn’t mine either, don’t worry)? That’s okay! The explanations are friendly enough for those of us who haven’t looked at an equation or formula since high school.
View these titles and other silly suggestions here!
Got a Title in Mind? Tell Us!
Don’t see a book you want? Think it would make an excellent addition to our collection? You can request that we purchase it! Our collection grows with your suggestions, and we love a good recommendation (especially a silly one). Submit a request through our Suggest a purchase form, or contact your liaison librarian.