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4th out of 15 books
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The Darwin Awards Next Evolution: Chlorinating the Gene Pool (Darwin Awards #5)
Evolution takes a giant step forward with the fifth edition of the New York Times bestselling phenomenon.
The human races most popular humor series returns with a new collection of macabre mishaps and misadventures. Honoring those who improve our gene pool by inadvertently removing themselves from it, The Darwin Awards Next Evolution shows how uncommon common sense still ...more
The human races most popular humor series returns with a new collection of macabre mishaps and misadventures. Honoring those who improve our gene pool by inadvertently removing themselves from it, The Darwin Awards Next Evolution shows how uncommon common sense still ...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
October 30th 2008
by Dutton Adult
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I've read the Darwin Awards since I started getting emails about them way back in college. Over the years, I've gotten some of the best laughs of my life from the Darwin Awards. Now they have a website that's updated pretty regularly, but I've never seen a book about them. It caught my eye in the library and I snatched it up and practically ran to the checkout counter!
The concept of the Darwin Awards can seem pretty gruesome at first glance - they are almost always awarded posthumous...more
The concept of the Darwin Awards can seem pretty gruesome at first glance - they are almost always awarded posthumous...more
The Darwin Awards Next Evolution: Chlorinating the Gene Pool is yet another entry in Wendy Northcutt's series of humorous books. A Darwin Award is an honor the author bestows on those of the human race who end their lives in spectacularly stupid ways, usually by some sort of fatal misjudgment or lack of common sense. Their demises (or circumstances in which they lose the ability to reproduce) are chronicled in this book. There are a truly massive amount of stories, which certainly showcases the...more
This one is actually my favorite of the Darwin Awards books. I thought that the past ones had far too many Urban Legends and unconfirmed stories (though I still liked them), not to mention too many runner ups (which are now renamed at-risk survivors). This one just felt more complete.
For those that are unfamiliar with the Darwin Awards, they are stories about people who remove themselves from the gene pool in extremely foolish ways (through death or reproductive damage). They have to h...more
For those that are unfamiliar with the Darwin Awards, they are stories about people who remove themselves from the gene pool in extremely foolish ways (through death or reproductive damage). They have to h...more
Margaret Sankey
added it
The ever-expanding panorama of people with vehicles, explosives and a conspicuous lack of critical thinking skills. Things are not going to end well when the phrases "so, we were in the basement making a pipe bomb," "a case of beer went into the planning," "the snake is friendly, nothing will happen" or "let's pour plutonium down a floor drain, no one will notice" are invoked. Oh, and don't try to trim your hedges using a lawnmower held horizontally. Or...more
These books are so scary.
I really like how what used to be "Honorable Mentions" are now labeled as "Survivors at Risk."
Human stupidity is entertaining, but I don't think I've laughed as hard at any of the books more than the story of the kid who put a fire cracker in his trombone to blow the mute into the air. I think that one was in the first Darwin Award book that was published.
I really like how what used to be "Honorable Mentions" are now labeled as "Survivors at Risk."
Human stupidity is entertaining, but I don't think I've laughed as hard at any of the books more than the story of the kid who put a fire cracker in his trombone to blow the mute into the air. I think that one was in the first Darwin Award book that was published.
Reading about 10 of these vignettes would have enough. And it really felt like a cop-out that some of these stories aren't even validated - so it's just recycling bunch of likely-not-true myths. Read a few of the real, validated ones on her website and skip the book.
The format change, with all of the scientific info in between the chapters, was disappointing. I like the books for the comedic relief they provide. I don't want to learn anything from these books, other than the really stupid way people meet their own ends...
The stories were funnier (although just as sad as/) than I thought they'd be. I wasn't expecting the "science interludes," but those were my favorite part of the book, covering all kinds of topics, including the history of making insulin from E. coli and mantle plumes
Two thoughts kept running through my head while reading this.
1) These are almost exclusively about men
2) How on earth am I going to be able to warn my sons about all the idiotic things they might consider doing, but shouldn't.
1) These are almost exclusively about men
2) How on earth am I going to be able to warn my sons about all the idiotic things they might consider doing, but shouldn't.
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Another edition of the Darwin Awards, where people help out evolution by removing themselves from the chain (either by death or becoming unable to reproduce). It has a good blend of stories, and some science essays in between the chapters. I usually just go for the stories. The humor level does vary, but they all show what happens when someone does something really stupid, thus keeping his genes (it's usually men, but there are some women) out of the gene pool.
With so many unconfirmed reports, it's hard to appreciate this book. The sporadic scientific essays are interesting, but the book is pretty weak overall. At times I felt guilty reading it, as if I were taunting dead people. Don't waste your time with this book.
It was so horrible and awful....and I couldn't put it down and just kept reading. It was great to see the rules for being included. (i.e. no children, no mentally impaired people).
Picked this up from the New Book shelf at the library and it wasn't as entertaining as I expected. I've read more interesting and detailed accounts of the awards on the Internet.
It's a bit depressing to read a bunch of these stories all at one time. Really, are any of us certain we aren't going to end up like this?
Cannot decide whether these stories are sad or downright hysterical. Like the "scientific interludes" in between each section.
Horrible fascination with the idiotic things people do to off themselves. Is it a character fault of mine? :p
Love how humorous the topic is presented, in fact, the humor is in the acts of stupidity. Enjoyable!
Classic darwinism, not much else can be said as it is like any other Darwin Award book out there.
I disagree with her views on evolution, but the stories are hilarious and bizarre.
This is the perfect book to read in short spurts. I loved all of the stories.
Picked this up at a hotel, not very interesting/good. People are stupid.
just what I needed to get my mind off how hectic my life has become.
Absolutely hilarious. This really is a strong argument for Darwin's theory...
Too Good...I just can't believe people can be sooooo stupid...
The Dame Can Read
is currently reading it
I love this type of books. Still reading it though.
Not as good as previous books, mainly because of the new additions. They should stick to the formula that works, people dying in dumb ways. There is way to much other stuff in this book and it cuts down on the space for good stories. Still it is good for a laugh.
The Darwin Awards are always a hoot.
Hilarious.
funny
Better than the previous Darwin Awards books because of the organization and extra tidbits.
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Wendy Northcutt graduated UC Berkeley with a degree in molecular biology. She began collecting the stories that make up the Darwin Awards in 1993 and founded www.DarwinAwards.com shortly after.
Northcutt is the author of the international bestsellers The Darwin Awards: Evolution in Action, The Darwin Awards 2: Unnatural Selection, The Darwin Awards 3: Survival of the Fittest, and The ...more
More about Wendy Northcutt...
Northcutt is the author of the international bestsellers The Darwin Awards: Evolution in Action, The Darwin Awards 2: Unnatural Selection, The Darwin Awards 3: Survival of the Fittest, and The ...more
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