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How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite
The co-founders of the global science organization Nerd Nite bring readers a collection of wacky, yet fascinating STEM topics.
For twenty years Nerd Nite has delivered to live audiences around the world the most interesting, fun, and informative presentations about science, history, the arts, pop culture, you name it. There hasn’t been a rabbit hole that their army of presenters hasn’t been afraid to explore. Finally, after countless requests to bring Nerd Nite to more fans across the globe, co-founders and college pals Matt Wasowski and Chris Balakrishnan offer readers the quirky and accessible science content they crave in book form. Focused on STEM and paired with detailed illustrations that make the content pop, the topics are quirky and vast, from kinky, spring-loaded spiders to the Webb telescope’s influence on movie special effects.
How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi features narratives, bursts, and infographics on all things STEM from scientists around the world. Chapters are sure to make you laugh-out-loud, with titles such as "The Science of the Hangover," "What Birds Can Teach Us About the Impending Zombie Apocalypse," and "Lessons from the Oregon Trail."
For twenty years Nerd Nite has delivered to live audiences around the world the most interesting, fun, and informative presentations about science, history, the arts, pop culture, you name it. There hasn’t been a rabbit hole that their army of presenters hasn’t been afraid to explore. Finally, after countless requests to bring Nerd Nite to more fans across the globe, co-founders and college pals Matt Wasowski and Chris Balakrishnan offer readers the quirky and accessible science content they crave in book form. Focused on STEM and paired with detailed illustrations that make the content pop, the topics are quirky and vast, from kinky, spring-loaded spiders to the Webb telescope’s influence on movie special effects.
How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi features narratives, bursts, and infographics on all things STEM from scientists around the world. Chapters are sure to make you laugh-out-loud, with titles such as "The Science of the Hangover," "What Birds Can Teach Us About the Impending Zombie Apocalypse," and "Lessons from the Oregon Trail."
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2024
142 people are currently reading
11969 people want to read
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November 6, 2025
Nerd Nite is an event usually held at a bar or other public venue where usually two or three presenters share about a topic of personal interest or expertise in a fun-yet-intellectual format while the audience shares a drink. It was started in 2003 by then-graduate student (now East Carolina University professor) Chris Balakrishan at the Midway Cafe in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. In 2006 Nerd Nite spread to New York City, where Matt Wasowski was tasked with expanding the idea globally. - from Wikipedia--------------------------------------
Be There and Be Square - Nerd Nite logoThere was a nerd magazine in 2012, a Youtube presence, and occasional podcasts. This is the first Nerd Nite book.
Misophonia can attach itself to any repetitive sound, but the most common ones are things, like chewing, breathing, sniffing, and throat clearing. It can be hard for sufferers to talk about because of how difficult it can be to tell someone politely that the sound of them keeping themselves alive is repulsive to you.There are 71 entries, taken from live presentations done by the authors of each piece. (TED talks for those with short attention spans and a need for alcohol?) Nerd Nites have been held in over 100 cities across the globe. The material here covers eleven scientific areas. (see below) All the entries are brief, so if one does not appeal to your mental tastebuds hang on a couple of minutes for the next one, or just skip past.
Chris Balakrishnan and Matt Wasowski - editors - image (from some time ago) from Facebook
You can digest this book a few morsels at a time, and not have to worry about the fate of a fictional hero or put-upon victim. Nope. The heroes here are the scientists, the presenters. One of the great failings of popular science books, IMHO, is the absence of humor, or poor attempts at it. Not here. There are many moments in this one, and humor in almost all of them. That made me very happy. Of the 71 pieces, almost all are very pop-sciency, understandable by most readers, even me. There were only one or two that made my head hurt. It makes an excellent bed-side read. It was an upstairs book for me, to be read before nodding off, hopefully. Sometimes that takes a while. This is not an all-inclusive list of the articles, but lets you know what might be in store in its eleven sections
1 - Creature Features - on weird animals
2 - Mmmm...Brains - strangeness with how we learn and adapt
3 - Bodily Fluids - on things like coping with poo in space. (In space, no one can hear you fart?)
4 - Doing It - like it suggests, on sex, human and non-human, (no, not with each other. Don't be weird.)
5 - Health and (un)Wellness - human smells (See Paul Giamatti in The Holdovers) - on therapeutic maggots, adolescent medicine, et al
6 - Pathogens and parasites - on birds, bacteria in birds, zombies, the scotch tape test (don’t ask), viruses
7 - Death and Taxes - mass extinction, cancer, algae
8 - Space, the Big and the Beautiful - ignorance, asteroid avoidance and use, life on Europa?, artificial gravity, studying a pristine meteorite, Webb telescope
9 - Tech (High and Low) - GMOs, dating app, human powered flight, cyborging humans, domesticating bacteria, nuclear fusion
10 - Math is fun - a seminal experiment, the math of gossip, the golden ratio, infinity, cryptography
11 - Careers – things removed from dogs, useless inventions, myths about death, animals CSI, amputations, fermentation, flames.
there are approximately 100 trillion microorganisms (mainly bacteria), representing as many as 30,000 different species, living in every crevice, nook, and mucosal cranny of your body that you can imagine.I would include a list of my favorite articles, but it would wind up as long as the parts list above. But ok, because I have the sense of humor of a twelve-year-old, the one that made me laugh the most was To Boldy Go: Dealing with Poop and Pee in Space. Apollo 10 astronauts were gifted with the visual, and no doubt olfactory, treat of a turd meandering about in their capsule. This begins a talk about how one handles bodily waste in zero G. Another on bladder control, or the absence thereof, was sidesplitting. Others, on camel spiders and hangovers, generated a fair number of LOLs.
Some were fascinating, like one having to do with making a brain on a chip. (Can it be served with Salsa?) The pieces on bacteria and their importance to human life, heck, to all life on Earth, were fascinating.
There is plenty of weirdness, about diverse forms of milk, the proper use of maggots in healing, zombie parasites, asteroids, artificial gravity, and here we go with another bloody list. Sorry. Take my word, there is a wealth of material here that will broaden your knowledge base, and serve up plenty of conversational hors d'oeuvres for cocktail party chatter.
It worked quite well for me. There is a downside, though. Because all the articles here are very short, one is often left hungry for more. On the other hand, that limitation might provoke you to sate that desire with a bit of extra research, which is always a good idea. So, never mind.
If science piques your curiosity, if learning new and diverse things makes your heart race, or if you like to laugh, then this book is for you. How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi is a very filling read, one nibble at a time.
Review posted - 06/14/25
Publication dates
----------Hardcover – 02/01/24
----------Trade paperback - 11/04/25
I received a hardcover of How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi from St. Martin’s Press in return for a fair review. Thanks, folks.
This review will soon be, cross-posted on my site, Coot’s Reviews. Stop by and say Hi!
=============================EXTRA STUFF
Author/Editor links
Chris Balakrishnan - Program Director at the National Science Foundation - His personal and FB pages
A list of his articles
Matt Wasowski - Director of New Business and Product Development, Events at SAE International – His FB, LinkedIn and Twitter pages
Items of Interest from the authors (really editors)
-----Soundcloud - excerpt - 5:01
-----Birdsong: How the Twittering Set Learns to Speak
-----"Nerd Nite Published a Book!" by Matt Wasowski - Nerd Nite Austin 155, January 2024
November 8, 2023
Life Under the Ice of Europa?
The Mathematics of Gossip.
Caskets, Corpses, and Biers, Oh My!
Maggot Therapy, or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bugs.
These are some of the lecture topics discussed in twenty minute monthly presentations at Nerd Nite at one of 100+ cities worldwide. The audience is welcome to, and often imbibes! (Coffee for me, please!)
"How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi" by Chris Balakrishnan and Matt Wasowski is an engaging presentation for readers that displays STEM topics in a quirky, but in-depth manner. The goal is to inform and entertain using "stories, lessons, jokes, infographics and illustrations [meant] to be fun, irreverent, challenging, approachable, and smart...". Most of the presenters represented in this collection of essays were graduate students or young professionals.
Not being a lover of all things STEM, this reader's concentration wavered; many topics were fascinating, others beyond the scope of the reader's framework of knowledge. I would argue that this read is suitable for high school students and adults, however if frustrated, some essays might be skipped. All in all, a most informative albeit somewhat raunchy read.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Mathematics of Gossip.
Caskets, Corpses, and Biers, Oh My!
Maggot Therapy, or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bugs.
These are some of the lecture topics discussed in twenty minute monthly presentations at Nerd Nite at one of 100+ cities worldwide. The audience is welcome to, and often imbibes! (Coffee for me, please!)
"How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi" by Chris Balakrishnan and Matt Wasowski is an engaging presentation for readers that displays STEM topics in a quirky, but in-depth manner. The goal is to inform and entertain using "stories, lessons, jokes, infographics and illustrations [meant] to be fun, irreverent, challenging, approachable, and smart...". Most of the presenters represented in this collection of essays were graduate students or young professionals.
Not being a lover of all things STEM, this reader's concentration wavered; many topics were fascinating, others beyond the scope of the reader's framework of knowledge. I would argue that this read is suitable for high school students and adults, however if frustrated, some essays might be skipped. All in all, a most informative albeit somewhat raunchy read.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2023
Toilet bowl reading for the overeducated. That's a sincere endorsement. Why miss a moment when you could be improving yourself?
Also, a paper copy of this book by the commode would be more sanitary than doomscrolling on your phone.
It is only a few days before Christmas as I write this, which is a shame, because this book seems to be ideal for a stocking-stuffer or perhaps a Christmas gift exchange for a book club or an office. My apologies to the publisher (who gave me a free electronic copy for review) for not getting on the stick sooner with this endorsement.
In case you missed it: Nerd Nite is a nightclub-based activity that started in the early 2000s. They are like Ted Talks without (1) sitting in rows in an auditorium, (2) high production values, and (3) utter seriousness. (Like Ted Talks, however, there is a Nerd Nite YouTube channel.) Nerd Nite is an improvement on Ted Talks in the following ways: there is beer (or other poison of your choice), you can make comments (unkind or otherwise) to your friends during the talks, and you can (sometimes you have to) lean against the bar during the presentations (or step out, temporarily or permanently, if you wanted).
Even if you do not read this book while using the toilet, this is not one of these books where you start at the beginning and read through until the end. You can open it anywhere at random and start reading. It is a series of Nerd Nite talks in book form. Even the longest chapters can be read in less than ten minutes. I think it is normal that some of the chapters will appeal to you more than others, depending on your interests. Chapters that I particularly enjoyed included: “Monarch the Bear”, “A Tea Test Tempest”, and “Wildlife Detectives”. I thought the talk about hangovers and the talk about your gut biome were not so interesting. Don't read the chapter about human parasites while you are eating. I did not understand the chapter entitled “From Bach to Tool: the Secret Math Behind Music Theory”, but then again I'm a little tone deaf.
Some of the talks are by and for people with the same sense of humor as junior high school boys, not that there's anything wrong with that. If that is you, I recommend the chapter on the problems of controlling human solid waste in space, and also the chapter on the male insect that, as an evolutionary adaptation, has developed the ability to do reverse somersaults after sex, which has prevents him from being eaten by his insect mate post facto.
Pointless carping: I think that whoever chose the title chose poorly. It implies that there is a talk entitled “How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi” somewhere in the book. There is not. I know at least one person who is so obsessed with mushrooms that they would likely buy the book on the basis of the title, and be disappointed. Both mushrooms and fungi are mentioned in passing in some of the chapters, but they are not a focus. The title, it is explained in the introduction, refers to the authors, who are “fun guys”. I suppose dopey puns like this are completely in the spirit of nerd night, but still I thought the title was an example of inadvertent false advertising.
All of the chapters are print versions of science-based talks. I look forward to a book of Nerd Nite talks on non-science topics. I particularly remember a very interesting talk at DC9 years ago in which the speaker contended that today's reality TV programming was the 21st-century’s answers to Victorian-era freak shows, which now seem intolerably cruel and barbaric to modern sensibilities. I’ve thought about that talk whenever I see the Kardashians and their ilk once again tugging at the public's attention.
I received a free electronic advance review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
Also, a paper copy of this book by the commode would be more sanitary than doomscrolling on your phone.
It is only a few days before Christmas as I write this, which is a shame, because this book seems to be ideal for a stocking-stuffer or perhaps a Christmas gift exchange for a book club or an office. My apologies to the publisher (who gave me a free electronic copy for review) for not getting on the stick sooner with this endorsement.
In case you missed it: Nerd Nite is a nightclub-based activity that started in the early 2000s. They are like Ted Talks without (1) sitting in rows in an auditorium, (2) high production values, and (3) utter seriousness. (Like Ted Talks, however, there is a Nerd Nite YouTube channel.) Nerd Nite is an improvement on Ted Talks in the following ways: there is beer (or other poison of your choice), you can make comments (unkind or otherwise) to your friends during the talks, and you can (sometimes you have to) lean against the bar during the presentations (or step out, temporarily or permanently, if you wanted).
Even if you do not read this book while using the toilet, this is not one of these books where you start at the beginning and read through until the end. You can open it anywhere at random and start reading. It is a series of Nerd Nite talks in book form. Even the longest chapters can be read in less than ten minutes. I think it is normal that some of the chapters will appeal to you more than others, depending on your interests. Chapters that I particularly enjoyed included: “Monarch the Bear”, “A Tea Test Tempest”, and “Wildlife Detectives”. I thought the talk about hangovers and the talk about your gut biome were not so interesting. Don't read the chapter about human parasites while you are eating. I did not understand the chapter entitled “From Bach to Tool: the Secret Math Behind Music Theory”, but then again I'm a little tone deaf.
Some of the talks are by and for people with the same sense of humor as junior high school boys, not that there's anything wrong with that. If that is you, I recommend the chapter on the problems of controlling human solid waste in space, and also the chapter on the male insect that, as an evolutionary adaptation, has developed the ability to do reverse somersaults after sex, which has prevents him from being eaten by his insect mate post facto.
Pointless carping: I think that whoever chose the title chose poorly. It implies that there is a talk entitled “How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi” somewhere in the book. There is not. I know at least one person who is so obsessed with mushrooms that they would likely buy the book on the basis of the title, and be disappointed. Both mushrooms and fungi are mentioned in passing in some of the chapters, but they are not a focus. The title, it is explained in the introduction, refers to the authors, who are “fun guys”. I suppose dopey puns like this are completely in the spirit of nerd night, but still I thought the title was an example of inadvertent false advertising.
All of the chapters are print versions of science-based talks. I look forward to a book of Nerd Nite talks on non-science topics. I particularly remember a very interesting talk at DC9 years ago in which the speaker contended that today's reality TV programming was the 21st-century’s answers to Victorian-era freak shows, which now seem intolerably cruel and barbaric to modern sensibilities. I’ve thought about that talk whenever I see the Kardashians and their ilk once again tugging at the public's attention.
I received a free electronic advance review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
February 27, 2024
My Rating: 4.75/5
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book given that I am not super "sciencey", but I know the cover/title is what first piqued my interest. Here is the best part - this book made me realize that science is all around us and I AM a science loving gal! This book promised accessible content and it delivered!
There was so much to appreciate about this book. The humour/puns/quick wit from so many of the contributors, short chapters, a load of variety, and lots of food for thought. I did also manage to enjoy a few chapters on audiobook and what I listened to was also great! This book highlights that there are a lot of really smart and dedicated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and tech lovers living among us.
Now, not every topic is going to interest every reader, but there is enough diversity in the topics covered that you are going to find something you find intriguing and thought-provoking. For me, I was able to get enough information and enjoyment out of it to warrant a 4.75 rating.
I already have a science loving friend lined up that I can pass this book to as I know she will appreciate it!
*Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this book in exchange for an honest review*
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book given that I am not super "sciencey", but I know the cover/title is what first piqued my interest. Here is the best part - this book made me realize that science is all around us and I AM a science loving gal! This book promised accessible content and it delivered!
There was so much to appreciate about this book. The humour/puns/quick wit from so many of the contributors, short chapters, a load of variety, and lots of food for thought. I did also manage to enjoy a few chapters on audiobook and what I listened to was also great! This book highlights that there are a lot of really smart and dedicated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and tech lovers living among us.
Now, not every topic is going to interest every reader, but there is enough diversity in the topics covered that you are going to find something you find intriguing and thought-provoking. For me, I was able to get enough information and enjoyment out of it to warrant a 4.75 rating.
I already have a science loving friend lined up that I can pass this book to as I know she will appreciate it!
*Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this book in exchange for an honest review*
February 27, 2024
Thank you to the authors Dr. Christopher Balakrishnan and Matt Wasowski, publishers St. Martin's Press, for an advance hardback copy of HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE FUNGI. Thank you also to NetGalley for a widget. All views are mine.
Opening Quote: Please let us get this out of the way. The contributions in this chapter are not about zombies. We’re sorry. Loc.454
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. I adore that the endeavor, Nerd Nite, seeks out professionals who are still earning their bona-fides, so that the careers of these professionals are served while the audience is being entertained and educated.
2. This collection of essays starts with two of my favorite animals-- first spiders (or in this case, a spider myth-mimic, the camel spider, which is even more amazing) and then cephalopods. Yes I'm aware that word describes a class and not a single animal. I'm kind of in love with this book.
3. Very useful topics covered: Misophonia (the experience of finding certain sounds heating on the nerves or emotions); synesthesia (tasting colors or feeling songs); wildlife preservation; more.
4. The section introductions are hilarious! From one of them, I was reminded of the terrible and titillating diarrhea ditty of my childhood, which was both a joy and a gross out 💩😆
5. The chapter on worms is wonderfully disgusting!
6. I love that Dr. Ali Mattu, in the essay "How Not to Destroy Ourselves," reminds me that [there] was a treaty signed by the entire world to fix the hole in our ozone. And... it worked! Loc.2364 I was in elementary school when this happened, but I remember the sense of urgency gripping everyone. That was before the environment became a politicized issue. But it gives me hope that people not only can come together on the issue of the environment, but they can accomplish great things when they do.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. I disagree that microdosing is the best option science has given us to treat psychiatric illness.
2. This book is unquestionably liberal in tone. Regardless of my personal politics, I'm not a fan of this sort of didactics, especially when couched in popular science. "If you care about teens, don't ever vote for a Republican." Loc.1636
3. These essays are very short. Which can be good. But a page or two about a scientific topic is nothing and often I wished the authors had given me just a little bit more.
Rating: 🧲⚗️🔬🧬 / 5 nerdy essays
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Feb 20 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🪳 stories about insects
🐕 stories about animals
🗿 stories about history
📃 very short essays
Opening Quote: Please let us get this out of the way. The contributions in this chapter are not about zombies. We’re sorry. Loc.454
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. I adore that the endeavor, Nerd Nite, seeks out professionals who are still earning their bona-fides, so that the careers of these professionals are served while the audience is being entertained and educated.
2. This collection of essays starts with two of my favorite animals-- first spiders (or in this case, a spider myth-mimic, the camel spider, which is even more amazing) and then cephalopods. Yes I'm aware that word describes a class and not a single animal. I'm kind of in love with this book.
3. Very useful topics covered: Misophonia (the experience of finding certain sounds heating on the nerves or emotions); synesthesia (tasting colors or feeling songs); wildlife preservation; more.
4. The section introductions are hilarious! From one of them, I was reminded of the terrible and titillating diarrhea ditty of my childhood, which was both a joy and a gross out 💩😆
5. The chapter on worms is wonderfully disgusting!
6. I love that Dr. Ali Mattu, in the essay "How Not to Destroy Ourselves," reminds me that [there] was a treaty signed by the entire world to fix the hole in our ozone. And... it worked! Loc.2364 I was in elementary school when this happened, but I remember the sense of urgency gripping everyone. That was before the environment became a politicized issue. But it gives me hope that people not only can come together on the issue of the environment, but they can accomplish great things when they do.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. I disagree that microdosing is the best option science has given us to treat psychiatric illness.
2. This book is unquestionably liberal in tone. Regardless of my personal politics, I'm not a fan of this sort of didactics, especially when couched in popular science. "If you care about teens, don't ever vote for a Republican." Loc.1636
3. These essays are very short. Which can be good. But a page or two about a scientific topic is nothing and often I wished the authors had given me just a little bit more.
Rating: 🧲⚗️🔬🧬 / 5 nerdy essays
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Feb 20 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🪳 stories about insects
🐕 stories about animals
🗿 stories about history
📃 very short essays
October 13, 2025
This collection of bite-sized science, tech and math essays is a perfect mix of nerd "meat" and nerd humour, with fantastic drawings. Recommend it to all my nerd friends.
May 22, 2024
"Though it may be easy to find information about animal sex in one place, birdsong in another, the first vaccine in yet another, and the science of the hangover in a fourth, it’s much more difficult to find in-depth, quirky content about multiple scientific subjects in one spot. Therefore, we think this book will fill that void of underservedness. With plenty of quirkiness and silliness along the way..."
I was in the mood for something a little lighter than the books I typically read, so I thought I'd give How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi a go. While there was some interesting info here, I didn't really enjoy the overall presentation very much. More below.
Author Chris Balakrishnan founded Nerd Nite when he was a graduate student in evolutionary biology at Boston University. Nerd Nite was born of a Boston bar owner’s curiosity about Chris’ ornithological adventures and Chris’ goal of making science more accessible.
Chris Balakrishnan:
The book is presented as a collection of numerous short essays; across a wide swathe of territory. The presentation was supposed to be funny. Unfortunately, I didn't laugh once. Usually, I appreciate the narration of audiobooks. Unfortunately (again), some of these narrators began to grate on me as the book went on. The presenters have a habit of speaking in an overly exaggerated tone, and frequently uptalk - sort of how you might speak to a 2-year-old.
The writing here is also full of talk about sex, which is not really my cup of tea. Also, for a fun science book, there was a baffling amount of pro-LGBT propaganda crammed in here. Nowadays, you can't even pick up a science book without being force-fed THE MESSAGE. It seems you can't escape this crap no matter where you go... SIGH
Instead of just sticking to telling amusing scientific stories and anecdotes, many of these presenters take the opportunity to evangelize for their leftist "progressive" worldview here, instead. I really, really dislike when authors cram their shit-tier political opinions into books where they have no business being, and my ratings always reflect this.
In a super-cringey attempt to make a funny, one of these lobotomized authors proclaims: "...if you care about teens, don't ever vote for a Republican." Oh, wow. Cool opinion. Thanks for sharing. Maybe just stick to talking about science next time?
There was also more nonsense in here about how biological sex is on a spectrum. That some animals have different chromosomal characteristics than people do is trotted out as "evidence." Human beings are sexually dimorphic, sexually reproducing creatures, with 2 default phenotypes. The binary idea of sex is not flawed. The overwhelming majority of people are either XX or XY. Even when intersex and sex chromosome aneuploidies are taken into account, M-F still applies to ~99.9% of the population.
Later in the book, another lobotomized scientist talks about the dangers of tribalism, noting that there has been a rise in (gasp) nationalism, and pearl clutches over the election of Jair Bolsonaro. Strangely enough, no mention was made of the danger of wide-sweeping far-leftist sentiment: the literal Neo-Marxist movements sweeping across college campuses, and the violent riots of summer 2020, to name but a few.
On a positive note, there was a good bit of writing here about GMO foods.
******************
Despite being excited to start this one, How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi ultimately was a disappointment.
2 stars.
I was in the mood for something a little lighter than the books I typically read, so I thought I'd give How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi a go. While there was some interesting info here, I didn't really enjoy the overall presentation very much. More below.
Author Chris Balakrishnan founded Nerd Nite when he was a graduate student in evolutionary biology at Boston University. Nerd Nite was born of a Boston bar owner’s curiosity about Chris’ ornithological adventures and Chris’ goal of making science more accessible.
Chris Balakrishnan:
The book is presented as a collection of numerous short essays; across a wide swathe of territory. The presentation was supposed to be funny. Unfortunately, I didn't laugh once. Usually, I appreciate the narration of audiobooks. Unfortunately (again), some of these narrators began to grate on me as the book went on. The presenters have a habit of speaking in an overly exaggerated tone, and frequently uptalk - sort of how you might speak to a 2-year-old.
The writing here is also full of talk about sex, which is not really my cup of tea. Also, for a fun science book, there was a baffling amount of pro-LGBT propaganda crammed in here. Nowadays, you can't even pick up a science book without being force-fed THE MESSAGE. It seems you can't escape this crap no matter where you go... SIGH
Instead of just sticking to telling amusing scientific stories and anecdotes, many of these presenters take the opportunity to evangelize for their leftist "progressive" worldview here, instead. I really, really dislike when authors cram their shit-tier political opinions into books where they have no business being, and my ratings always reflect this.
In a super-cringey attempt to make a funny, one of these lobotomized authors proclaims: "...if you care about teens, don't ever vote for a Republican." Oh, wow. Cool opinion. Thanks for sharing. Maybe just stick to talking about science next time?
There was also more nonsense in here about how biological sex is on a spectrum. That some animals have different chromosomal characteristics than people do is trotted out as "evidence." Human beings are sexually dimorphic, sexually reproducing creatures, with 2 default phenotypes. The binary idea of sex is not flawed. The overwhelming majority of people are either XX or XY. Even when intersex and sex chromosome aneuploidies are taken into account, M-F still applies to ~99.9% of the population.
Later in the book, another lobotomized scientist talks about the dangers of tribalism, noting that there has been a rise in (gasp) nationalism, and pearl clutches over the election of Jair Bolsonaro. Strangely enough, no mention was made of the danger of wide-sweeping far-leftist sentiment: the literal Neo-Marxist movements sweeping across college campuses, and the violent riots of summer 2020, to name but a few.
On a positive note, there was a good bit of writing here about GMO foods.
******************
Despite being excited to start this one, How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi ultimately was a disappointment.
2 stars.
December 23, 2023
"How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi" is a collection of short scientific essays on a wide variety of topics, often with a humorous, irreverent, or raunchy tone (depending on topic). The format is from a previously heretofore unknown to me event, Nerd Nite, where science types present their studies to an audience that is encouraged to drink. It's like Comedy Central for nerds! (Is there one in Tampa or Orlando? I need to look more into this...)
Some of the essays seemed too short for me! I wanted to learn more, and then - BAM! - it's done. Is that rushed feeling the result of the Nerd Nite format? I'm not sure.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity for the book.
Some of the essays seemed too short for me! I wanted to learn more, and then - BAM! - it's done. Is that rushed feeling the result of the Nerd Nite format? I'm not sure.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity for the book.
January 11, 2024
Thanks Goodreads for the advance copy:-) I really enjoyed this book. Never considered myself a science nerd (though I did really like the health sciences aspect of nursing school) and definitely NOT a math nerd but I learned so much about a variety of math and science through this book. And they made it fun. I finished this book very quickly. I now want to attend a Seattle Nerd Nite;-) I'd never heard of it until I read this.
September 11, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
A strange collection of short, funny, and wonderfully weird science essays—each written by a different specialist. Some topics weren’t exactly my cup of tea, but most of them were fascinating, quirky, and full of “wait… WHAT?!” facts I didn’t know I needed.
It’s the kind of book that makes you smarter and weirder at the same time—and honestly, I’m down for it.
A strange collection of short, funny, and wonderfully weird science essays—each written by a different specialist. Some topics weren’t exactly my cup of tea, but most of them were fascinating, quirky, and full of “wait… WHAT?!” facts I didn’t know I needed.
It’s the kind of book that makes you smarter and weirder at the same time—and honestly, I’m down for it.
January 2, 2024
This is the best kind of non-fiction - fun, quirky, and accessible to nearly everyone. The chapters are short, making it perfect for those with limited understanding. It also would work well as a coffee table or bathroom book for those who are into that, as you can easily just read a single chapter and come back to it later without issue.
Many of the authors were funny. Some were political, which will alienate some readers, which is unfortunate because of the great information and perspective about humans as just a small piece of an enormous world that has been around for a long time.
I shared some of the information with friends (clown fish, civil war amputations, maggots for wounds, our future in space). I really think there's something for everyone.
Some of the drawings were odd or confusing. I supposed they were intended to be funny but maybe they just didn't go well in the e-book version.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. I will purchase for my library.
Many of the authors were funny. Some were political, which will alienate some readers, which is unfortunate because of the great information and perspective about humans as just a small piece of an enormous world that has been around for a long time.
I shared some of the information with friends (clown fish, civil war amputations, maggots for wounds, our future in space). I really think there's something for everyone.
Some of the drawings were odd or confusing. I supposed they were intended to be funny but maybe they just didn't go well in the e-book version.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. I will purchase for my library.
November 13, 2023
This is a collection of short essays on a wide range of science topics. The essays are indeed short - most of them barely get into a topic before boom! the end! I enjoyed the breadth of covered areas but wish that they could have been covered a little more in depth.
February 26, 2024
This is the perfect read for all the science nerds out there who have a short attention span but want to read ALL THE THINGS about ALL THE THINGS. Covering an exceptionally wide range of topics, How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi has a little something for everyone from medical science to careers in science and everything in between.
What I loved about this book is that the information for each topic was not only clearly given by experts in the field but were extremely informative in just a few pages per topic. This made it perfect for a quick read while waiting in line at the grocery store or during ads on a streaming channel, because honestly I'd rather read about microbiomes than watch another pharmaceutical ad for a disease that last time I checked, I did not have. The quirky humor that I share made the individual articles all the more entertaining. Some of the chapters were a bit more technical and boring than others, but that is personal preference and also probably based on the fact that I was an English major who made the mistake of marrying a math nerd and then birthed two math nerd babies so the Math is Fun chapter was decidedly not fun for me.
This book is the perfect gift for yourself or your fellow nerdy friend or lover. If you are a huge fan of Mary Roach or Nerd Nite, I highly recommend you don't miss out on this. I read many of the articles out loud to my husband before bed and neither of us had heard of Nerd Nite before. It has now been added to our bucket list the next time they are performing in town and we can't wait for any future books to be published from Nerd Nites across the country.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dr. Chris Balakrishnan, Matt Wasowski, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
What I loved about this book is that the information for each topic was not only clearly given by experts in the field but were extremely informative in just a few pages per topic. This made it perfect for a quick read while waiting in line at the grocery store or during ads on a streaming channel, because honestly I'd rather read about microbiomes than watch another pharmaceutical ad for a disease that last time I checked, I did not have. The quirky humor that I share made the individual articles all the more entertaining. Some of the chapters were a bit more technical and boring than others, but that is personal preference and also probably based on the fact that I was an English major who made the mistake of marrying a math nerd and then birthed two math nerd babies so the Math is Fun chapter was decidedly not fun for me.
This book is the perfect gift for yourself or your fellow nerdy friend or lover. If you are a huge fan of Mary Roach or Nerd Nite, I highly recommend you don't miss out on this. I read many of the articles out loud to my husband before bed and neither of us had heard of Nerd Nite before. It has now been added to our bucket list the next time they are performing in town and we can't wait for any future books to be published from Nerd Nites across the country.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dr. Chris Balakrishnan, Matt Wasowski, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2025
Yay, finally done. I started it so fast and then slowed down a loooooot. Some really cool stories and some "not-so-interesting" stories, but overall I learned some stuff and went "that's neat" a lot.
October 8, 2024
Remember bathroom books? Relatively interesting -though discombobulated- popsci essays.
October 12, 2023
What these Nerd Nite essayists have in common: a sense of humor, an expertise in the specific subject matter, a love for the world through the lens of the hard sciences, and terrific drawings. It would make a great coffee table gift for young curious minds. Though it may not offer much depth in the various subjects of the short essays, it's bound to spark curiosity and intrigue, and at minimum, leave the reader with a few fun trivia tidbits about the vastly interesting world.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.
Currently reading
November 6, 2025Source libby audiobook.
August 2, 2024
Sometimes a collection of short pieces is less than the sum of its parts, because it is not well put together or the overall quality is so wildly fluctuating that it becomes a chore to pick out the good and great from the dull and bad.
This is one of those. It’s probably a fine toilet reader, as it has a lot of short, probably too short, sections on the natural world and our scientific understanding of it. However, it does not flow together, to the point that attempting to group the individual parts together was probably a mistake, and the quality fluctuates wildly from the professionally groan inducing to the mildly interesting, with a few spots of “Oh that’s actually really well explained and cool stuff!”
You could do better though, with other compilations.
This is one of those. It’s probably a fine toilet reader, as it has a lot of short, probably too short, sections on the natural world and our scientific understanding of it. However, it does not flow together, to the point that attempting to group the individual parts together was probably a mistake, and the quality fluctuates wildly from the professionally groan inducing to the mildly interesting, with a few spots of “Oh that’s actually really well explained and cool stuff!”
You could do better though, with other compilations.
April 7, 2024
63%
I'm not confident that this was peer reviewed and fact checked, because the thing about dehydration and headaches isn't actually true, and there's a thing about hormones and gender identity in here that also isn't necessarily true, which actually does hurt the cause that you're championing when you put in facts aren't actually facts.
I mean it's cool because I got to see some things that were interesting and experience and hear about some facts I wouldn't have heard about, I was really here hoping to hear more about fungi but that didn't happen so I was pretty disappointed about that really.
I'm not confident that this was peer reviewed and fact checked, because the thing about dehydration and headaches isn't actually true, and there's a thing about hormones and gender identity in here that also isn't necessarily true, which actually does hurt the cause that you're championing when you put in facts aren't actually facts.
I mean it's cool because I got to see some things that were interesting and experience and hear about some facts I wouldn't have heard about, I was really here hoping to hear more about fungi but that didn't happen so I was pretty disappointed about that really.
October 10, 2025
2.5 Stars
I have a complicated relationship with "quirkiness." In concept, I like it a great deal. In practice, I still like it... but there comes a point in which it becomes performative, like the 9 year old at the birthday party shouting "look at me!" In a bid to assure the reader that "this isn't your mama's boring old science book!" we rely heavily on childish scat humor and cringe-inducing pop culture references to establish tone. That's not to say How to Win Friends et al. is never funny - I laughed at least two or three times - only that it is trying way too hard to show you how not uptight it is.
This is a series of scientific essays on a variety of talks put on by Nerd Nite. From context I gather they are some kind of social media/podcasting/YouTubeing thing that seeks to make science fun and accessible. I applaud them for that noble mission even if I have a decided distaste for the tone they strike. And unfortunately, this loosey-goosey approach to comedy sometimes carries over to the talks themselves. Because they are so short, many of these essays don't really have an opportunity to take a deep dive into their chosen topics, meaning they amount to little more than Cool Facts or Bathroom Reader material. But there are enough essays here that either used their limited page space more efficiently or whose topic was more suited to a limited format that I felt I got my reading's worth on the subject.
I believe I saw a review somewhere that said something to the effect of this book being the logical progression of that kid who that they were the smartest kid in middle school because they memorized a book of bizarre facts, and it's hard to dispute that. I get the sense that whether you enjoy this book more or less than I did will rely on whether you 1. are already a fan of Nerd Nite, in which case, you should ignore my whole review because while I didn't mean to, I WAS kinda insulting and I am sorry for that or 2. you're not all that interested in science but you thought this looked fun and who doesn't love the odd Big Book of Facts amirite?
I have a complicated relationship with "quirkiness." In concept, I like it a great deal. In practice, I still like it... but there comes a point in which it becomes performative, like the 9 year old at the birthday party shouting "look at me!" In a bid to assure the reader that "this isn't your mama's boring old science book!" we rely heavily on childish scat humor and cringe-inducing pop culture references to establish tone. That's not to say How to Win Friends et al. is never funny - I laughed at least two or three times - only that it is trying way too hard to show you how not uptight it is.
This is a series of scientific essays on a variety of talks put on by Nerd Nite. From context I gather they are some kind of social media/podcasting/YouTubeing thing that seeks to make science fun and accessible. I applaud them for that noble mission even if I have a decided distaste for the tone they strike. And unfortunately, this loosey-goosey approach to comedy sometimes carries over to the talks themselves. Because they are so short, many of these essays don't really have an opportunity to take a deep dive into their chosen topics, meaning they amount to little more than Cool Facts or Bathroom Reader material. But there are enough essays here that either used their limited page space more efficiently or whose topic was more suited to a limited format that I felt I got my reading's worth on the subject.
I believe I saw a review somewhere that said something to the effect of this book being the logical progression of that kid who that they were the smartest kid in middle school because they memorized a book of bizarre facts, and it's hard to dispute that. I get the sense that whether you enjoy this book more or less than I did will rely on whether you 1. are already a fan of Nerd Nite, in which case, you should ignore my whole review because while I didn't mean to, I WAS kinda insulting and I am sorry for that or 2. you're not all that interested in science but you thought this looked fun and who doesn't love the odd Big Book of Facts amirite?
June 4, 2024
This book feels like something you’d find in your grandparents bathroom to read while you poop. Except if you did, you’d be on the toilet for the next couple hours trying to finish it. While less of a book and more a collection of research abstracts, it is a super fun read that mostly avoids getting too detailed. A few of the topics fell short for me (one section just named a bunch of cephalopods and used a bunch of words I’d never heard of), but most were interesting and/or fun. The writing style comes across as your favorite science teacher who’s a little out of touch, but makes up for it with tons of passion. So even though the comedy feels a little forced or over the top at times, it’s always energetic and engaging. If you’re lacking on topics to fill those awkward silences or just love learning new things, this is a great book.
December 31, 2024
Nerd Nite is a monthly event where individuals give 20 minutes presentations designed to inform and entertain. The book – How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite by founders Dr. Chris Balakrishnan & Matt Wasowski - is a collection of 71 stem-centered presentations from different presenters and cities along the way. It is a quick read, entertaining, and definitely does not take itself too seriously. If it educates and attracts people to learn more, I am all for it.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024...
Reviewed for NetGalley.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2024...
Reviewed for NetGalley.
November 19, 2023
The book is interesting. It feels more like a set of humorous, if somewhat off color, essays for adults, than what I expected. I was expecting to read serious, somewhat humorous, discussions about lesser known scientific subjects. I guess I'd recommend this to adults who enjoy science, but not to young adults or to persons who don't already understand a lot about science to begin with.
Want to read
January 28, 2024Wow, there is no way for me to explain how much I adore this book! So many interesting facts to learn and in such a fun way. I love learning new things and specially if it is with a nice dose of humor. I had never heard of Nerd Nite before reading this ARC on Netgalley but now I’ve subscribed to their YouTube and will be definitely ordering a hard copy (or a few to share with friends) of the book to keep in my favorites collection.
February 13, 2024
I had never heard of Nerd Nite before, but I enjoy learning more about STEM related topics. This book was basically a compilation of Nerd Nite presentations, many of which I found very engaging and interesting. The problem for me was that many of the sections were very minimal, and some of the sections were very superficial and seemed to mostly contain common knowledge.
I think this book would be good for people who don't have much knowledge in STEM subjects and want to learn more. Many of the topics are quite interesting and could urge people to explore the topics more in depth. As someone who works in STEM and enjoys learning unique related facts, this book mostly told me about a lot of things I already knew about. I imagine it would be a lot more fun to attend a Nerd Nite Presentation and have a beer while contemplating sex changes in clown fish. I'll definitely keep an eye out for the next one in my area!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I think this book would be good for people who don't have much knowledge in STEM subjects and want to learn more. Many of the topics are quite interesting and could urge people to explore the topics more in depth. As someone who works in STEM and enjoys learning unique related facts, this book mostly told me about a lot of things I already knew about. I imagine it would be a lot more fun to attend a Nerd Nite Presentation and have a beer while contemplating sex changes in clown fish. I'll definitely keep an eye out for the next one in my area!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 10, 2024
I didn't realize this was a ton of fascinating totally unrelated snippets, but I loved it anyway. A great book for leaving around and flipping through, you can read these in any order. So many topics that might pique your curiosity and lead to further reading or offer exciting career directions you might have not known existed.
February 5, 2024
My addiction to audiobooks prevents me from pursuing podcasts much, so this was a win/win for me. An audiobook based on a podcast! The very short chapters are just enough science for me and if one topic was not of much interest, it was on to the next one very soon. Also - great title!
July 24, 2025
there were many Facts and Things in this book
April 2, 2024
I had never heard of Nerd Nite before now and it's truly a shame. Nerd Night is essentially like Ted Talks for science. This book is a collection of short informational essays written by authors working in STEM fields who have a history of appearing at Nerd Night across the world. The big idea is to make science comprehensible for the layman. And make it funny too.
Luckily, because this book comes from multiple authors, if there was one particular essay that was above my head (looking at you "Getting to Know Infinity" by Dr. Zajj Daugherty) then I could always take a brain break by reading one of the other, more accessible essays.
If I'm being totally honest, a small background in science will help you understand more of these. Overall, excellent.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Luckily, because this book comes from multiple authors, if there was one particular essay that was above my head (looking at you "Getting to Know Infinity" by Dr. Zajj Daugherty) then I could always take a brain break by reading one of the other, more accessible essays.
If I'm being totally honest, a small background in science will help you understand more of these. Overall, excellent.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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