Rating: 
Summary: For Smart People Only: Bush Beware
Review: I found this book to be one of the funniest, quirkiest books I have ever read--but be warned-- you have to be smart and have a sense of humor to appreciate it. We told these stories at the dinner table at Thanksgiving and everyone--from my youngest nephew who is six to his grandparents--were rolling on the floor. This is a book our new President Elect should read; he is definitely hovering on the edge of being a statistic. George W, don't tie rocks to yourself and jump in a lake; if you have a drink, don't get into any macho drinking contests! If you are one of the genetically gifted, buy this book and share it with you whole family. You know, if these people don't eliminate themselves, they might do something really stupid and hurt someone else.
Rating: 
Summary: High in Potential... Low in Execution
Review: I have read many an email about a new Darwin Award winner and was really looking forward to this anthology of Darwin Award winners.But, a clunky writing style and an amateurish attempt by an apparent first time editor made this material hard to read in a 300 page book format. Add to that the rather low ratio of truly humorous stories and you have a poorly executed effort. The second star is for the content that IS truly humorous and will get you rolling every once in a while. This would make an okay bathroom book... but wait for paperback and the smaller price tag.
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Summary: There but for the Grace of God . . .
Review: This is a wonderful book. I can vouch for its excellence as a twice failed nominee for such an award. Many years ago, setting out for a fishing trip on the Severn River just after the ice broke up, we came to a narrow rock cut where the river plunged 10 feet to 15 feet. Other boaters had wisely halted, ready to begin several hours of arduous portaging. We decided to take a closer look to see if we could run the rapids, running the motor at trolling speed. If it wasn't safe, we could accelerate to full power and race away from the fast water. It wasn't safe. Then, the motor stalled. We went down the rapids, paddling like mad to stay in control. We managed to survive unscathed. A quarter mile downstream, the motor started without a hitch. We puttered back to the rapids, intending to warn the others, and saw a second boat sail out breezily and plunge down the rapids. It vanished. The boat owner bobbed up about 50 yards downstream, and we raced to haul him out. Then we asked why he tried it. He replied, "When I say you guys cut your motor, I figured anyone could do it." No awards that day. But, it serves as an example of how not thinking, or acting on incomplete information, lures people into such trouble. Some years later, I was taking photographs in a bull ring. We'd all been graciously hosted with a bottomless pitcher of margaritas. Fueled with such liquid wisdom, I decided on a never-taken-before photo of an enraged bull just after it charges past the matador's dramatically upflung cape. To do so, I knelt on the ground about 25-feet from the matador, near the center of the ring, to take my picture. Everything went perfect until the cape was flung upward. Then, with the big red target gone, the only thing left in the bull's vision was me. I dropped to the ground before the bull could change direction or lower his horns; he passed over me, smashing my camera. Needless to say, I've never since been allowed into another bull ring. The newspaper even ran a story about it, "Situation reversed: Bull throws reporter." So, I'm lucky. God truly does favors drunks and fools. But, there's a limit to such patience. It's what makes this book rather poignant. Time and again, it cites brave, daring, unique and foolhardy courage -- that should have been avoided with a little thought. It's a very dull person who has not, at some time in their lives, been involved in a situation that could have qualified for rank embarrassment if not for an actual Darwin Award. After all, it commemorates "individuals who ensure the long-term survival of our species by removing themselves from the gene pool in a sublimely idiotic fashion." It's great not to make the cut. Read it. You'll be amazed at the sublime idiocy of some people, and perhaps of your own good fortune. It's well written, with a marvelous light sense of humor; and a reminder that some people are really unlucky. Or, in blunter terms, stupid.
Rating:
Summary: We're All Dying
Review: We're all going to die after laughing our lungs out reading this book. I can't think of a better present for someone with an off-beat sense of humor. I had been giving all my friends copies of The RoMANtic's Guide this year. Now I'm stocking up on The Darwin Awards for birthdays, anniversaries and other gifting occasions.
Rating: 
Summary: Huh?
Review: I must admit I misunderstood what this book was about. There isn't anything funny about people dying, regardless of the circumstances. The truth is, we're all "stupid". The only difference between us and them is that it cost them their lives, they will have no more tomorrows, and their families and freinds will have to deal with it. I tried to give it zero stars, but the system wouldn't let me. Besides, the author seriously seems to believe that man "evolved from apes", or that evolution is even possible. (think about it).
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable But (Apparently) True
Review: Perhaps even Rod Serling and Stephen King could not imagine the human adventures and (yes) misadventures which are covered in this book. Several so-called "urban legends" are validated or invalidated. So many other situations are featured which seem unbelievable but are (apparently) true. I am a regular visitor to the website. With this book, I can now revisit (offline whenever I wish, wherever I am) situations which suggest that the human race must be saved...if only for the entertainment value of natural selection.
Rating:
Summary: Add Ms. Northcutt to the awards list
Review: Someone who has the time to collect this stuff, needs a life.
Rating: 
Summary: Careful how you read this
Review: The book is full of amazing anecdotes. Some of them are gut-bustingly funny. Some hurt just to read. I really enjoyed this book. So, I started its rating as 5 stars. However, I had three complaints, each of which lost the book a star. First, the book categorizes stories as "Confirmed by Darwin" and "Not confirmed by Darwin". However, even some of the not confirmed stories have citations to newspapers and other seemingly impeccable sources. It would have been very nice to have an appendix which indicated how the confirmed ones had been confirmed. (Down to 4 stars.) Second, the introductions to the chapters are not terribly well-written. They aren't awful or anything, but they do contrast with the crisply-written stories themselves. Moreover, some of these introductions are *real* stretches. The contortions at the end of these particular introductions to make them seem connected to the stories in the chapter made me roll my eyes. These would have been better omitted, or turned into interludes, or something. (Down to 3 stars.) Third, the book seemed like a huge plug for the website. Yes, I realize this material started out in email and morphed into a website, and there really is some interesting additional information on the website. However, I think the book has considerable general appeal, and tying it that closely to the web makes it less appealing as a present for technophobes who appreciate this kind of humor. (Down to 2 stars.) In the end, I'm giving it one star back because it really is good fun. (Finished at 3 stars.) Warning: don't read more than five or six stories in one sitting. They lose something when they are bunched together.
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Summary: Save the gene pool!
Review: The Darwin Awards are given to people that "improve the gene pool by removing themselves from it". That means you either die or lose your ability to reproduce. You have to read this book to believe it. I can't believe most of these are real (They'll tell you if it's conifirmed or not, or if it was made up)! Want an example? Drowning is an unfortunate tragedy. Throwing a beach party for an oncoming hurricane w/65 MPH winds is stupid. Falling from a building is bad luck. Rigging your lawnchair to fly with 45 helium-filled weather balloons and flying into LAX airspace is idiotic judgement. Want more? Read the rest of the book. Check out the web site while you're at it.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing stories sure to please anyone
Review: I've always loved the Darwin Award emails I get each year - stories of people who think up "brilliant" plans and who are quickly shown the error of their ways. Many things are things that could happen to any of us, some are things that only a truly eccentric brain could ever think up. All are HILARIOUS!! I'm VERY glad that they went through the trouble to research them - some of the ones most talked about (the infaous JATO-strapped-to-a-car) never happened, and for a while that detracted from the many that were real. Now that those issues are sorted out in the book, what remains is a great set of stories about the lengths people will go to to achieve their goals. Definitely the kind of book that you get 8 of, give to all your friends, they give to all their friends, and so on!!
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