Rating:  Summary: don't beleave me go to the website Review: if you have any doubts about this book then go to the website, and try out some stories. I think that the darwin awards are funny beond beleaf, but maby you should juge for yourself.
Rating:  Summary: "Survival of the Fittest" Evolution is Thriving Review: The book provides reassurance that only the fittest dosurvive. Since nature tends to weed out the less desirables,humanity's gene pool can become stronger and purer. If you ever shakeyour head in amazement at mankind's dumbness, then this book is foryou. I don't know anyone who wouldn't find this book hilarious. By thetime I was finished I was laughing so hard, tears were running down myface. I still like to pick up the book whenever I need to add a dashof humor to my day. These stories never fail to amuse. My personalfavorite is the terrorist who had his mail bomb returned to him forinsufficient postage and then innocently opened the package, blowinghimself to bits. Urban legends or not, this book is one of thefunniest things I have ever read. Buy it now!
Rating:  Summary: One of those books you want to loan to friends... Review: This is one of those books that you want to loan to friends (or buy as a gift -- perhaps using the money in the "stupid tax" jar in the kitchen). I'd been reading the annual awards on the Net for years, and mailing the funniest ones to friends; the tale of the man who welded cargo plane takeoff-assist jets to his car is so outlandish as to not be believed -- and apparently, shouldn't be, so take some of these stories with a grain of salt, even when they're purported to be true. We all love to read about people from the "shallow end of the gene pool"; it makes us feel that perhaps we're not as dumb as we worry we might be. If you've ever thought about doing just about anything listed in this book...well, um...maybe we'll see you in the next edition. The Darwin folks have been doing fine, fine work for years, and it's good to see a payoff for them, especially when it's as funny as this. I think it could have been longer (or denser), but it's certainly a good value.
Rating:  Summary: Rib Ripping Fun Review: This is one of those books that once you start reading it you won't want to put it down, and yet it's a perfect coffee table/waiting room/bathroom book since the stories are so short and self-contained. It's a winning combination of black humour and subtle wisdom. Some of the people in the stories are so idiotic that you'll find yourself chuckling about them days after you've read their story. The ultimate example of how we can learn from others' mistakes as well as our own, and have a great laugh in the process. If you are ever feeling down or downright stupid because of some error you made, just pick up this book and all will seem well again.
Rating:  Summary: RESTORES FAITH IN THE HUMAN RACE Review: A great read over a warm drink for a rainy day or a long flight, and a great gift for teenagers. One thing. Each of the people detailed in the book thought they were being quite sensible, and most readers, to be honest, will admit that they have a few adventures of their own they are happy no one knows about. When you look at it that way, it is a hilarious tribute to how, in spite, or perhaps because of ourselves, we somehow march on. Be sure to check the website for even wilder stories. Let's face it...we know these people.
Rating:  Summary: Disappointed Review: I've been getting Darwin Awards email for years and just loved it - very funny stuff. But I found this compilation very frustrating largely because of the writing - which I found amateur-ish. I felt it could've been a lot funnier if the reports were straight from the newspapers they were culled from. The "comical editorializing" just left me annoyed - it just wasn't funny. The writer would often start out by telling us how the person died, or what the person did and spoil it for you - by letting you know what you're about to read! And often important information to the story would be left out altogether - which is especially annoying since the writer is a molecular biologist - someone who should know how to assemble the facts to unfold in an effective fashion. But that doesn't happen here. I have to re-write and explain things to myself as I go along and as a result I find myself tossing the book on the floor. I will try to finish it (it's research at this point) but it is just damn painful to read. Now, keep in mind I'm a writer, and I write comedy (and I'm considered very successful at it).
Rating:  Summary: A smile a day! Review: Everybody does stupid things sometimes ... do you wonder why is it that you always have to learn the hard way? Do you get up in the morning dreading the day and it's pitfalls? Read one story a day, and appreciate the fact that these people have it worse than you ... I have been following the happenings on the darwinawards.com site for over a year now, hell, one of my escapades got me a special mention. The whole concept of the darwinawards is just brilliant! It was about time that the darwin awards were shared with the world! Great, Great, GREAT Entertainment!
Rating:  Summary: Portable Website Humor Review: I'm a long time fan of the website www.darwinawards.com, and I was delighted with this book. It translates the website humor into a portable format. Take it to the beach, on a car trip, or.... into the bathroom. The book is filled with humorous tales of human misadventures. It more than fulfilled my expectations.
Rating:  Summary: Extremely funny Review: I've been a fan of the Darwin Awards web site for a long time and was thrilled that Wendy Northcutt wrote a Darwin Awards book! She has a special way with words that makes all the stories seem even funnier. The book is hard to put down, a real page turner. Hope she writes another!! Great!
Rating:  Summary: warped sense of humour Review: I will lead by saying that a one star rating is my own personal opinion and that there are clearly people out there that would very much enjoy a book like this. I am writing a review simply for those that might like to hear another view point on the contents. First - this is a book made up entirely of very short stories (jokes?), mostly only one page long, about real events in which someone, or several people, died, as a result in thier errors of judgement. Second - you must have a sense of humour capable of overlooking the fact that these people really did die, and at a great loss to the people that loved them. Third - a great number of these stories are about ordinary people, not criminals/terrorists etc. Fourth - you must also be capable of overlooking how you might feel if someone you know and loved died like this and a book came out that made a joke of it. That is about all I have to say on the matter.
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