99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them

by Ashely Alker

An illuminating, hilarious, and practical guide to 99 of the most terrifying ways to die and how to avoid them from an emergency medicine doctor.

Dr. Ashely Alker is a self-described death escapologist—or, in more familiar terms, an emergency medicine doctor. She has seen it all, from flesh-eating bacteria to the work of a serial killer to the more mundane but no less deadly, and her work outwitting the end has uniquely prepared her to write this book.

Dr. Alker manages to shock listeners while making them laugh, educating them on how to outsmart a wide range of deadly situations and conditions. Many of the chapters include stories from her experiences in life and medicine, at times heartwarming, others heartbreaking. Sections include explorations of sex, poison, drugs, biological warfare, disease, animals, crime, the elements, and much more.

An Anthony Bourdain-style greatest hits tour of death, 99 Ways to Die is entertaining while it informs. Full of valuable advice and wild stories, this riveting listen might just save your life.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Health, Medical, Audiobook, Medicine, Death

Audible Audio

First published January 13, 2026

About the author

Ashely Alker, M.D., M.Sc., is an emergency medicine physician. During her graduate degree in public health, Dr. Alker studied at Harvard School of Public Health’s International Institute in Cyprus. She lived near the United Nations Green Zone and worked at the Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture. After graduating from the George Washington University School of Medicine, Ashely worked as a healthcare advisor for a U.S. Congressman. During her medical residency at the University of California, San Diego, Dr. Alker was a technical consultant and medical screenwriter for over twenty television shows, including TV and film for Netflix, HULU, HBO, and Disney. Ashely’s writing focuses on public health education. Her non-profit, Meaningful Media, connects writers, artists, and reporters with certified public health experts to develop scientifically accurate messaging. You can visit Ashely online at aalkerMD.com.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found the book to be very engaging. It is medical information for the non-medical person. Everything can kill you. This book tells you how and why death happens. If it is read superficially, it could be said to lead to increased hypochondria. If it read too critically it could be said to be "medicine lite". It could have been very dry, instead Alker treats the grim subject with humor and keeps the reader engaged.

I have been an emergency responder (now retired) and a trainer of emergency responders (still at it) for more than 40 years. I am often asked to explain toxicity and infections in layman's terms. I am pretty good at it. Alker excels at it. If I ended up in an ER room for any reason, I would like her to be my ER doctor. Even if she couldn't save me, we would have a good laugh about why that was the case.

Take aways from the book:

Refrigerate food and cook it well.
Drink clean water and wash your hands.
Don't put things up your butt.
Do not listen to "influencers" opinions about being healthy.
Water can be toxic (I have known this for years, I now know why it is fact)
And, if you are nuked, brush yourself off and find a cellar.

Seriously, it is a great book. Alker actually jokes about making people too afraid. If you want a medical text - buy one. If you want to know how things kill you or make you sick without becoming a doctor read this book. I have already recommended it to safety and health professionals.

[Ten Cats Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one grew on me as I went through it.

Pre-Read Notes:

I like books about medical science and the title here suggests a bit of wry humor!

"According to the World Health Organization around three hundred thousand women die annually from pregnancy-related complications. In the US, mortality is much higher in African American and Hispanic populations. For example, preeclampsia is 60 percent higher in Black women, and they are more likely to experience poor outcomes. In their review of maternal mortality, the US Maternal Mortality Review Committees determined that more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths in the US were preventable." p140

Final Review

(thoughts & recs) I never did figure out who the author was writing this for. It doesn't seem useful to her stated audience, people who know nothing about medicine, because the info she provides is often not actionable by members of the general public. It seems more suited for her fellow medical professionals, who could at least act on the information, but then again most of them would already know some or most of the information presented.

If it had been more entertaining, rather than dry and sort of repetitive... but unfortunately I can only read about unavoidable infections and natural disasters and violence for so long before I'm not very happy anymore. That being said I learned an astounding amount about death and dying and a keen insight into *how medical professionals* engage with these topics. As a disabled person who sees doctors weekly, this insight was so useful for me.

The author claims in her foreword that she's trying to help people by demystifying death and dying and by empowering them with information. It is useful in the very strict sense that it goes over confounding factors that hasten dying and death in a medical situation. In fact, I thought the book was definitively better once I moved beyond the medical chapters and into sociological factors, parasites, ecological factors, and so on.

After completing the book, I think this book does have an audience though. It would be extremely useful to writers and people with an interest in death. Hey, it's a dark but legitimate interest! It is a good popular science read too and I think readers with general interest will find something here.

✔️ "In the beginning, there was nothing. Women squatted in fields and pushed, and a lot of them died in childbirth. For instance, from 1700 to 1750 in Great Britain, one in one hundred women would die in childbirth. Humanity has improved its survival statistics for birth, but they still aren’t great. According to 2020 Central Intelligence Agency worldwide estimates, the United States, the country with the world’s most expensive healthcare, ranks 122 in maternal mortality, just three spots ahead of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the US maternal mortality rate is on the rise." p135 For some readers, this passage will enlighten. For me, it merely vindicates and makes me even angrier about the roll-back of women's reproductive rights in the US, already a country with the third worst maternal death rate on the planet. This will only get worse.

✔️ Honestly, the sections on STIs are fascinating and funny in a tender sort of way. "HSV1 is oral herpes, contracted via kissing or contact with infected saliva, and most commonly causes cold sores. Most people will contract this virus during childhood through infected saliva contact. It is less common but HSV1 can be transmitted through oral sex and genital contact . A bit of good news, possibly, those with HSV1 oral herpes are thought not susceptible to HSV1 genital herpes. So, those with HSV1 cold sores shouldn’t get HSV1 genital sores … YAY?!?" p151

✔️ "Some might say “Don’t do drugs,” which seems simple, but our world has created an intricate economy based on addiction. It may be one of the most complicated problems humans have created." p171 Bless her for not stigmatizing the patient in this story or *any* patient.

Notes: disease, barriers to treatment, death and dying, STIs, HIV, pregnancy, complications of pregnancy and birth, drugs, addiction, overdose, emergency room,

Thank you to Dr. Ashley Alker, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of 99 WAYS TO DIE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM. All views are mine.

[JanB · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a nurse so I know there’s no end to ways people can die. I accepted this book because I’m interested in anything medical and I hoped the author, an emergency medicine physician, would write about rare and unique accidents or diseases. And maybe throw in a few Darwin Award recipients.

Instead, this reads like textbook or wiki entries on very common ways to die: heart attack or stroke, infections, poison, STDs, drugs, animals, crime, the elements, and warfare. She does occasionally make an attempt at humor but it falls flat. As my reading buddy said, this is more like 99 Ways to Bore You To Death.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, 99 Ways to Die, by Ashely Alker, M.D., from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Dr. Ashely Alker is an Emergency Room doctor, and has seen a lot. From infections, heart disease, not being vaccinated, brain diseases like GBS, STDS, over dose, and drugs, etc, There is so much that can us. Some out of our control from animals or poisons, and some in our control drug use, and not taking care of ourselves. This was an informative read.

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashely Alker is an American emergency medicine doctor, so she has basically encountered all kinds of dangerous, she has seen all kinds of potentially lethal and sadly often indeed resulting in death medical scenarios (from flesh-eating bacteria to mass murder) and with her January 2026 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them showcasing Dr. Alker (shockingly but also very much humorously) educating us readers regarding how to avoid and how to outsmart a wide range of easily deadly situations and conditions and with much of 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them in fact focussing on accounts from Ashely Alker's personal life experiences and especially from her medical career (at times heartwarming, at times heartbreaking, but always, always enlightening). And well, and just to say, when reading a medical book, I would generally expect the presented text to be drily and sometimes even tediously informational, but thankfully 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them is anything but the latter, since Dr. Alker not only organises her information into very easy-to-follow chapters but also sprinkles her narrative with the above mentioned humour to offset and to mitigate the generally pretty heavy-duty and horrid contents of 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them (and indeed more than a bit, although I must admit that there were definitely times when I was feeling just a wee bit voyeuristic regarding 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them and also somewhat guilty for chuckling and giggling at Ashely Alker's included and featured light-hearted, satirically sarcastic asides, but to be honest, not ever in any manner sufficiently so to not have totally adored the vast majority of 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them).

Now regarding the actual contents of 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them, while I am going to avoid showing too many spoilers, I am indeed hugely on board with Dr. Alker being totally and completely pro vaccine (including for Covid 19) in and throughout 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them, so yes, up yours Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Junior and company (both moronic politicians and also their often even more ignorant acolytes and supporters), that Ashely Alker is also in favour of mandatory public health mandates such as masking, hand-washing, quarantining and social distancing, as well as Alker in 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them very specifically pointing out that if a bat is in one's room, in one's house or even flies really near to one's body, to immediately go to the hospital for a post exposure rabies vaccination (since we do not tend to feel pain from bat bites, how they leave very small, almost microscopic marks, but that these minuscule bites are still more than large enough to let the rabies virus in and that without an immediate emergency vaccination, rabies will generally prove fatal, but please, Dr. Alker, do not simply call bats the unflattering and problematic label of being uncanny and creepy, they are very good insect pest killers, bats also help with pollination and are certainly not inherently dangerous and animals to universally fear).

Finally, major kudos to Ashely Alker for not just regurgitating medical jargon with 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them, that she clearly and simply (although never either simplistically or patronisingly) highlights those threats that are entirely out of our control, but also shows those scenarios, where prudence and care could be the difference between life and death (and that it is also on us and up to us to avoid drug abuse, unsafe sexual practices and the like). Therefore, a very solid and appreciative five stars from me for 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them (but that while I do very highly and warmly recommend 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them and what Ashely Alker is textually providing, well, if you are actually a hypochondriac, you might want to consider not reading 99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them).

[Marialyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hypochondriacs beware!

The author’s attempt at providing us with the 99 ways we could and have died failed with me.

It came off like a written account of what we might get from Dr Google complete with remedies, the bulk of which were through vaccines or injections.

While I do applaud the good doctor’s dedication and drive going around as a new physician searching out for exotic diseases, many times she came of a tad braggy.
I guess it’s hard not to when describing your encounters with disease.

Horrors of horrors, I was bored eventually, and wondered why. The author tried to add humorous details but for me they fell short.

So many ways to die, it amazing we are still alive! 😉

Jan had a similar reaction.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: Jan. 13, 2026

Ashely Alker, MD is an emergency room doctor who has consulted on several Hollywood medical shows. With her knowledge, and a fair amount of sarcasm and wit, she has created the hypochondriac’s worst nightmare with her book, “99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them”.

Using anecdotes from her own life, and those of her colleagues and friends, Alker details how everything from viruses, bacteria, poisons, environmental disasters, animals, biological warfare and so much more, can kill humans and what we can do (if anything) to prevent it.

Most of her stories are humorous and some are tragic but all are informative. Alker has covered almost every corner of mortality in human beings in a unique way. She groups the ninety-nine ways in sections, and then sets out to provide as much information as she can on the various topics. I found “99 Ways” educational and entertaining, but there was more than one section that was utterly terrifying.

“99 Ways” is not an easy read, subject-matter wise, but it is easy to read in that there is no dense language or scientific jargon. Alker references chemistry when she needs to (i.e. in the section on chemical weapons), but it doesn’t feel like a high school chemistry class where compounds and elements are being thrown at you and the same can be said for any of the biology or anatomy that shows up. “99 Ways” is a non-fiction medical book, without the complex science.

There, obviously, are sections in the book that can be divisive for readers, such as the section on Covid-19 and Alker’s opinion on vaccines. Anyone who has a strong opinion, and concrete views, on these topics should be aware that Alker’s writing may create some strong emotions, but it’s nothing different from what we’ve experienced during the last five years post-Covid.

I can say with all honesty that I’ve never read anything like “99 Ways”. It is an informative encyclopedia of the human condition, and all of the ways in which the world (and the people in it) can try to take us out. With an appropriate amount of dark humour, Alker’s book is not just for the readers of medical tomes or science journals. “99 Ways” is clever, humorous and will appeal to every one that has a human body on planet Earth and wants to know how to keep it safe.

[Emily Poche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

99 Ways to Die and How to Avoid Them by Dr. Ashely Alker, M.D. is an encyclopedia of ways to die, studded with insight and anecdote from the author’s work life as an emergency physician.

The book follows an arrangement of short explanations of various things that can land you in the emergency room (and ultimately, the morgue). Arranged into sections like “The Elements” and “Infections,” she spends between a few paragraphs and a few pages on each. For readers that prefer narrative style or long form nonfiction, this isn’t for you. However, it’s a solid primer on a lot of medical/environmental/social issues that can land you in hot water. The topics are sufficiently varied, and even if you don’t find one interesting, there’s always bound to be another within a few pages. The encyclopedic style isn’t anything new, but it is particularly well executed. If anything, it could have benefited from an introduction/overview segment at the start of each section.

Unlike a lot of nonfiction, the author is her own character in this work. Some of the best additions to the book are case studies and anecdotes from her time as a physician, whether that’s talking about hellacious flights in medivac choppers or kids with brain abscesses hiding in plain sight. Her voice is witty, glib, and distinct. She doesn’t ever shy from inserting her own opinions, even politicized ones. Not every chapter gets the personalized treatment, and they’re significantly less interesting.

Where this book wasn’t entirely successful for me was that there was wild tone shifts between, and even within, chapters. At times she is funny, jocular, glib. Then in the same breath things wildly turn academic or somber. Maybe that’s the nature of death and healthcare; it did feel at times like it could have picked a slightly more consistent tone throughout. The chapters, too, could feel inconsistent. In some chapters things would be lightly discussed at a high level, and others were much deeper dives into disease process. The editing just seemed like it could have benefited from a little more conformation between the topics.

In general, I thought this was a really cool primer on a lot of different health topics. It was sort of like “adult health class you wish you’d have had” in the sense that it gave some helpful tips as well as a healthy dose of scare tactics. Do I feel better equipped to avoid death? Perhaps. I’m definitely not going to be picking up any blue ring octopuses or eating any strange street meats from now on. 3.5/5 rounded up to 4/5.

[Shelby R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

99 Ways to Die and How to Avoid Them is a smart, snark, and insanely informative book about…well…you guessed it, 99 ways to die. From scorpions to SARS, malaria to meningitis, to lightning strikes to locomotion (there is an entire chapter on this and I need another L word to complete my alliteration), Dr. Ashely Alker covers it all in a witty and engaging way. Moreover, coming from a person who is very prone to health anxiety, there’s absolutely no fear-mongerjng here, which could be very easy to do in a book about deadly things. We’re all going to die, Alker is just trying to help us be a little safer before we do.

I can’t wait to shove this book into friends and customer’s hands once it releases.

OH and P.S. If I didn’t need another reason to love this book, it helped me correctly answer a question at trivia night this past Wednesday.

P.P.S. Avoid hippos at all costs.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

99 Ways To Die: And How to Avoid Them by Ashley Alker, MD ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An emergency room doctor shares her knowledge of all the different ways to die and how to avoid them. Sections include sex, drugs, animals, biological warfare, poisons, disease, crime, the elements, and more.

For anyone who enjoys medical and science talk, you’ll want this one. It was so interesting. Even the less thrilling topics were fun to read; I was not bored for a moment. I loved the way it was categorized so you don’t have to read it in the exact order but can pick and choose your sections. I read the kindle version but the physical copy would make a great coffee table or guest room book.

“We all pick our poison, but this smoking is nearly guaranteed to affect your health. Consider a safer vice, like cage diving with great white sharks.”

99 Ways to Die comes out 1/13.

[L & J Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely wax eloquent about a nonfiction science book, either because the text is dry or there are many inaccuracies. That was not the case for this book! The medical and scientific information was accurate and yet simultaneously witty with a little bit of snark. Some of the explanations were simplified a bit for the lay audience but were detailed enough to provide helpful information and to delight folks like me who are tired of books purporting to be factual but are not. I heartily recommend buying this book; I plan on getting copies as gifts for friends once the hardcover is out, and I urge the author to make this available as an audiobook as I would love to buy audiobook copies for others.
I thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC (which I have been delighted to read); all expressed opinions are my own.

[Kim Novak (The Reading Rx) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a pharmacist, one of my biggest pet peeves is when medical and drug related content is misrepresented or plainly incorrect in books and other media. I love that the author is an Emergency Med physician working with the entertainment industry to improve accuracy in medical content,

Knowing that this book is geared towards laypeople interested in health and wellness, I went to reading it wondering if I would learn much. The answer is "yes" but in a different way. No, I didn't learn anything new about management of cyanide toxicity, but I did learn so much about random animals and insects around the world and points of history that didn't quite make it into my American educational system. One sentence about Unit 731 in Japan experimenting with various biological and chemical weapons sent me spiraling down a rabbit hole of information in side-reading. And Ashley Alker is freaking hilarious with her quips about working in healthcare. Most may fly right by a layperson, but for those of us in the biz, they are golden. So, even if you work in a medical field, this book is worth a read and is full of lesser-known nuggets about the world that is trying to kill us.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would have thought that this book (or a book like it), would be so enlightening and informative, so beneficial, potentially lifesaving, yet easy enough to understand for the average lay person, AND the Cherry 🍒 on top… humorous in dialogue and delivery.

The audiobook is 100% recommended as the way to throughly experience and enjoy this book.

[Jackie Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about us: our health. What could be more important?

Medical books can be dull with detailed complex information. Not this one. Dr. Ashely Alker presents it as if you’re having a fun conversation with her at a social event. It’s fascinating like watching a movie where you can’t miss a single thing. Dr. Alker writes from her experiences as an ER physician, a healthcare consultant for a US legislator and an advisor for TV and films.

What kills you? There were many things that I didn’t want to think about: gun violence, tornadoes, fires out of control, poisons, animal attacks, fresh water supply dwindling and always the possibility of a world war. Dr. Alker was in DC in 2011 with a shocking 5.8 earthquake. Me too. People working on our city block went outside -- a big mistake, she said. I remember anthrax too.

It's not surprising that traffic accidents have always been high up on the list. While there are laws and warnings, some people refuse to wear seatbelts! It may be safer to travel distances with the airlines as long as you’re in the right seat.

Much was revealed about brain and heart diseases such as dementia and strokes. Americans love football, skiing, baseball and boxing. She suggested a nice game of chess instead. Then she mentioned viral infections and said to stay clear of bats.

There were parts that gave me chills thinking about snake bites, shark attacks and other ocean creatures. She addressed climate change with more fires than ever, higher temperatures and devastating floods.

This book is a conversation piece. I was amazed how much I learned without feeling overwhelmed. The title with the phrase “how to die” is strong and immediately makes readers curious.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of January 13, 2026. As always, my opinions are my own.

[Tanja Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t pet snakes, eat poisonous plants, swim in shark infested puddles and don’t carry a loaded gun in your pocket! That’s the sage and commonsensical advice in this book.

Maybe I should listen to some if it? I was in Thailand on holiday in November and the questions I got most often from my traveling companions was «you’re not going to touch that?» and «do you have to go in striking distance of that snake?». When I wanted to pet cat fish in Bangkok I heard «you’re going to get your fingers bitten off!»

However, I grew up in fear of rabies quite without having seen «old yeller» so I’m actually not that keen on petting unfamiliar dogs, cats and bats — particularly not in the tropics. Water buffaloes, cattle, fish and snakes are another matter! Not necessarily safe either.

Anyway, I have never been pregnant, so I reduced a whole set of lethal and potentially debilitating risks there. I also wear helmets and seat belts. Wearing a helmet saved my life in a horseback riding accident when I was 17 years old.

It’s a fun book. I learned that you shouldn’t give infants water (they can’t regulate their bodies well enough) and that the saw scaled snake kills the most people every year.

I might not fear snakes, but I do have respect. As a teenager living in Chiangmai, I came home and saw a snake sleeping across the short cut/ side gate. I couldn’t identify the species, presumed it was a cobra (but is a cobra ever still?) or something poisonous and took the half kilometer detour to the main gate rather than step over it. See, death wish is not one of my dominant traits!

The books is fun and educational. Some of it is just fun and won’t make any difference to your life aside from a chuckle.

[Lindsay pinkcowlandreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

99 ways to die is a comprehensive list and explaining of many common and uncommon ways people present to the emergency room on the verge of death.

Long time emergency medicine doctor, Ashley, Elker, comprehensively and entertainingly provides information and storytelling to the reader in a way that is absolutely addictive.

I had gone into this book expecting it to be like that old show 101 ways to die with very ridiculous scenarios being played out, but I found myself learning a lot and also being entertained at the same time.

I listened to this audio on a road trip with my 11 and 15-year-old in the car and they also found the reading and storytelling to be not only informative but captivating. My 11-year-old came out saying I didn’t know you could give water to babies. So I counted as a win when the children learned something! That being said, there is a chapter on sexual health that some may deem a bit too risky for young people to read/ listen to, and in general some of the symptoms and deaths that are described are somewhat gruesome. But as an adult, I highly recommend this book.

The audiobook was introduced and concluded by the author herself, with the rest of the book being narrated by Natalie Naudus who does an excellent job retelling Ashley‘s stories and delivering the factual information in a highly engaging and entertaining manner. An excellent audio that made this book even more accessible.

[Nancyreadsalotofbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was this book I didn’t know I needed.
What I loved:
The simplistic explanations of the different diseases
The variety of diseases covered
The parasites were the most interesting of the book and the animal section.
And the afterlife section.
Really the whole book was extremely interesting.

It was information delivered the best way and it kept me reading to learn more

What I didn’t love, nothing. Although photos would have been really cool.

Thank you to St Martins Press for the early copy. I’m not sure why I picked to read this, but I’m so glad I did now.

[Elvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a dry wit to this that’s genuinely infectious (pun fully intended). Alker feels like that one friend (I hope) we all have, that when you leave after spending a few hours with them, your ribs ache from laughter, and you’ve developed a few more lines from the smile that never left your face.

In some ways, 99 Ways to Die creates the unique feeling of childlike wonder. It inspires curiosity, questions, informs books you might want to read, movies you might want to see, people you want to mine the depths of Wikipedia for, and places you probably don’t want to go. I love a book that makes me want to read more - and this one, while it tells you so much, makes you want to learn even more after.

There are so many quotable parts of this book. I won’t do it because the publisher asked me not to, but just know that I wish I could.

Instead, if you’re reading this review and trying to decide whether or not to pick up this book, the answer is - yes. You absolutely should. To take a page out of Red White and Royal Blue’s Alex’s book, here’s an incomplete list of people I think would enjoy this book:

- Students of history (think the Panama Canal, Napoleon, the British Empire, etc.), art history (Prussian blue and paintings of tetanus both get mentions), religion, and the classics (etymology, literature, language, and arts inclusive)
- Crime writers
- Also fanfic writers (and romcoms)
- Trivia fans (approximately the same number of people are killed by hippos each year as die from acetaminophen overdoses in the US - pull that one out for a tie breaker)
- Fans of film, movies, and TV, particularly if you like Disney, House MD, or Lost
- People who need joy - the medical advancements would even make the grinch (pre Cindy Lou Who) feel warmth
- Anyone who’s ever wondered what the WHO, CDC, FDA, and other public health organizations do with their funding
- Spaniards - apparently the US is actually responsible for the Spanish flu. Go figures
- Trans people or those who are really into Egypt (you too can learn fun facts such as why ancient Egypt believed that men also menstruated)
- Fans of Sesame Street: Medicine is like Sesame Street and they will make it so everything starts with C (unfortunately not for cookie)
- Australians
- Those in the market for a new car
- Oh yeah - and doctors

And speaking of Red White and Royal Blue’s Alex, he’s characterized in the book as being short (and defensive about it…classic) and his code name with the secret service (sorry if you have no idea what I’m talking about) is barracuda, which I learned while reading grows to six feet long. The more you know.

And here’s a much more brief list of things I now know but probably wish that I didn’t:

1. there are two locations of smallpox for research purposes post eradication: the US and Russia (coincidentally also the top two homes of serial killers…)
2. The flu vaccine is made from inactivated viruses which means I really don’t have any excuse to not get it each year since it can’t actually make me feel sick and that’s just an unfortunate placebo affect
3. That everyone has a preordained unknowable number of heartbeats
4. Spiders can live 43+ years
5. They never caught the cyanide Tylenol killer

I do wish the asterisks were included as footnotes at the bottom of each page. I don’t always remember what I’m supposed to be qualifying by the time I get to the end of the section. And some of the references to 911 and US specific statistics make this more American centric than it would be otherwise. But if those are the worst parts of this book, I think it’s fairly clear why it easily earned 5 stars.

The main takeaway I had from 99 Ways to Die is something I already knew that has now been impressively reinforced - I will not ever move to Australia. That’s mostly a joke. And as stated above, if you like jokes, you’ll like this book. (The good news is that I also learned from this book that 80% of things in Australia (other than the Australians) are found nowhere else on earth. Phew)

Given her extensive advice to avoid snakes and spiders, something tells me Alker would be horrified by the guy I see on Instagram sometimes “yoinking” and “booping” snakes, spiders, and alligators in the Florida Everglades. They seem to have very different sentiments on the safety of those actions.

I’ve already recommended this book to so many people. It’s truly an incredible, fun, and fascinating read. You should read this! Like for real you really should.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Kyle Wendy Skultety (gimmethatbook.com) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever wondered just how many ways the world can take you out — from bacteria to bad choices — Dr. Ashley Alker has you covered. 99 Ways to Die is a riveting and darkly entertaining field guide to everything that can go wrong with the human body (and the environment conspiring against it).

Each chapter examines a specific category of danger — viruses, bacteria, the elements, warfare, poisons, vaccine-preventable diseases, even food — written with the precision of a clinician and the flair of a storyteller. The structure makes it easy to digest (pun intended)  but also leaves you slightly terrified of your next sushi roll or deli sandwich. Alker’s background as an emergency physician gives the book a grounded, real-world authenticity. She doesn’t just explain the science; she shows it in motion — patients arriving with mysterious fevers, strange neurological symptoms, or the consequences of underestimating nature.

What makes this book stand out is Alker’s ability to break down complex medical concepts in clear, relatable language. She’s thorough without ever being clinical, weaving in stories from her real-life work as an emergency physician to illustrate how quickly things can go from “minor symptom” to “life-threatening situation.” Her cases remind you that medicine isn’t just science — it’s detective work, empathy, and sometimes pure chaos.

Her explanations are detailed but never dry. Alker walks readers through how pathogens invade, how the immune system fights back, and why something as small as a misfired protein can overthrow an entire body. There’s enough molecular detail to satisfy the science-minded reader — mentions of cytokine storms, viral mutations, and the delicate biochemistry that keeps us alive — but it’s always filtered through human stories. The result feels like watching House, M.D. written by someone who’s actually pulled night shifts in the ER.

One of the book’s strongest sections explores how diagnosis can be as much art as science. Doctors, she notes, often have to play detective — and sometimes their suspects aren’t forthcoming. She recalls a patient interaction that’s both hilarious and horrifying:

Doctor: “Do you have any medical conditions?”
Patient: “No.”
Doctor: “But I see you take eight different medications.”
Patient: “Yes, but since I’m taking the medications, I don’t have those conditions anymore.”

That blend of absurdity and reality underscores how fragile the line between wellness and disaster can be.

Alker’s humor keeps the pages turning even when the material veers into the macabre. In the “Brain Diseases” chapter, for instance, she discusses Campylobacter jejuni — a bacteria found in undercooked meat, raw milk, and, yes, pet kisses — she notes its potential link to Guillain-Barré Syndrome before deadpanning:

“And don’t let Lassie kiss your face, I don’t care how famous she is.”

That mix of authority and humor makes the science stick — and keeps the book from feeling like a doomsday manual. By the end, I felt smarter, a bit spooked, and oddly appreciative of just how resilient the human body is despite everything it’s up against. It’s science communication at its best: factual, funny, and a little terrifying.

By the time you close the book, you’ll have gained a crash course in microbiology, epidemiology, toxicology, and plain common sense — and maybe a new respect for soap, vaccines, and refrigeration.

99 Ways to Die is the perfect mix of education and existential dread — a medical thrill ride for readers who love learning what can go wrong with the human body and how our doctors heroically (and sometimes hilariously) try to stop it. You’ll laugh, you’ll shudder, and you’ll definitely think twice before skipping hand sanitizer.

If you’re a fan of Mary Roach (Stiff, Gulp), Atul Gawande (Being Mortal), or Caitlin Doughty (Smoke Gets in Your Eyes), you’ll absolutely devour this. 🧬☠️💉

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashely Alker, MD, has put together the most delightful version of ways you can die possible, mixing both the routine, unexpected and most horrific ways you can imagine. Experimentation not recommended.

Her mostly lighthearted approach will help you get past most of your reluctance to read this book, but I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty sure that she’s scared me off of swimming in any fresh body of water that isn’t heavily chlorinated, especially with any kind of open cut or wound.

Dr. Alker covers a full spectrum of ways you can die including ones typically associated with medicine, including viruses, bacteria, diseases, cancer, heart problems and the fun little (really REALLY little guys) that can cross the blood brain barrier.

Never fear (or perhaps do, if you want to live) there’s other things that can kill you too. She features entire chapters on weapons, animals, transportation, food, the elements, and more!

While we’re all going to do eventually die of some cause, and like many people I prefer it be in my sleep where I don’t feel a thing, the moral of this book is that a lot of these ways you can die are pretty preventable when taking reasonable precautions.

Get your vaccinations. Wash your hands. Cook your meat thoroughly if you eat it. Don’t take recreational drugs or overdose on the ones you’re legally allowed to take. Get tested and have protected sex. Don’t go rooting around in spaces where you’re likely to piss off a snake, spider or scorpion. And don’t have Batman as a role model, because apparently letting disease carrying rodents in your home is a bad idea.

I’m not going to give everything away because while it may keep you alive without reading the book, what fun would that be? Plus Dr. Alker deserves compensation for her hard work.

This book is a lot of fun for being about death, and Dr. Alker does a pretty good job of explaining most medical terminology. In some places she probably could have explained a little more but it’s not going to stop the average reader from getting the gist of the suffering they could experience.

Every once in a while she does also get off on a tangent that has either a very tenuous connection to what she’s currently covering or almost nothing at all, but that didn’t stop me either.

Given the subject matter I wouldn’t say this book is flat-out funny (laughing is not one of the ways she covers in how you can die), but it is interesting and amusing at points, and I would recommend it for people that aren’t going to get paranoid and lock themselves up in a sterile environment after reading it.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Julie Schraeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Brilliant, Moving, and Surprisingly Fun Exploration of Death

I have never read a medical science book quite like this one. From the very first pages—even the acknowledgements—I found myself both laughing and crying. The author is truly gifted with words, weaving together science, storytelling, and humor in a way that makes a heavy subject deeply approachable and even entertaining.

What makes this book stand out is how informative it is without ever feeling dry. Every chapter is filled with fascinating facts and practical information that anyone can benefit from. I learned so much about the human body, medicine, and the many ways our lives can end—but instead of feeling grim, I came away curious, moved, and strangely uplifted.

It’s rare to find a book that makes you laugh while teaching you science, but this one does exactly that. For anyone who loves nonfiction, appreciates brilliant writing, and wants to be surprised by how much joy and meaning can be found in a book about death—this is a must-read.

[Alissa Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is a must read! Witty, informational and so intriguing. Recommend to everyone!

[Victoria Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, informative, fascinating, and overall delightful read. I knew pretty early on into reading this one that it would be a five star for me. Some of the negative reviews mentioning not liking the tone, but I found the dark humor pretty consistent with every healthcare worker I’ve ever met. I also thought the humor made some of the more unbearable parts easier to read, and she was very sincere in chapters that called for it.

The book is divided into thirteen sections as a broad category followed by chapter long subcategories. Each chapter is relatively short and fast to read, but having 99 of them made it difficult to read in one sitting. That being said, it was very easy to pick up the book after putting it down, and I found myself wishing for my kindle during particularly boring moments of the day.

As a slightly morbid person that is in school to go into the healthcare field, I had a great time reading this. You can definitely tell that the author is a little morbid herself, but I don’t think that you can go into emergency medicine and not be just the slightest bit. Most chapters are told in an almost lighthearted manner, using dark humor as a way to alleviate the otherwise dire discussion of death.

The author’s vast experience also makes this both a fascinating and informative read. Reading some of the stories from her time working, as well as stories she has pulled from history and pop culture, really brought life to each of the chapters. I learned a lot of things, and I managed to only be grossed out during the tape worm chapter (worth skipping if you’re squeamish).

Finally, I just want to discuss how the author builds on each topic until overall reaching a thesis that current policy is detrimental to healthcare. Reading it while RFK Jr. is currently doing further damage to the already broken healthcare system in our country made for a very vivid reading experience.

Highly recommend this one, and I will be buying it for myself when it comes out.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Hank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was going to go one of two ways, I was either going to be terrified to ever leave my house or I would realize how many things could kill me and not worry too much about any of them. It was touch and go but fortunately apathy won out and I do leave my house from time to time.

Alker, who is an ER doctor has seen the gamut of deadly whatevers, she supplements that experience with other research and a good dose of humor to make 99 Ways to Die a thoroughly enjoyable book.

Thank you to LibroFM for the ALC, which as usual I did not read before publication date.

[Natalie K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible, terrible book. From the snarky tone that made me want to slap the author to the literal wrong information (the Covid section was completely wrong), this book was a real struggle to finish. The only reason I finished it was I wanted to be able to review it. I'd give it NEGATIVE stars if I could.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure the entire thing was sponsored by Big Pharma. All she does is tout how great vaccines are. Give it up! I don't want boosters! I don't want the flu shot! Leave me alone! I would not be surprised if a vaccine manufacturer paid her to write this because even in sections thad nothing to do with vaccines, she was singing their praises. It made no sense—unless there's a financial incentive.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.

[Ann Marie Schoenherr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. I read it until late at night and picked it up early in the morning. I read it on breaks from work. I have been a nurse for almost 42 years and find it both extremely funny/entertaining and informative! Despite all my years as a nurse I learned A LOT!!! I would highly recommend it for everyone!!! You will feel so educated in a positive and fun way!

[Nima · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredibly informative, fascinating, and funny. I think this should be in everyone's library.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #MacmillanAudio for this ARC.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them by Dr. Ashley Alker is a witty and insightful guide aimed at making the topic of health risks both entertaining and informative. Authored by an experienced emergency medicine physician, the book enlightens readers about various health threats and offers practical prevention strategies.

Throughout its pages, Dr. Alker shares amusing anecdotes and personal stories drawn from his medical practice, addressing a diverse array of dangers—from common everyday mishaps to more unusual hazards. This engaging approach not only captures the reader's attention but also equips them with essential knowledge to identify and tackle potential health risks, thereby fostering greater public health awareness.

The book is peppered with the thought-provoking quote from Paracelsus: "All things are poisons for there is nothing without poisonous qualities. It is only the dose which makes a thing poison." This statement highlights the crucial idea that understanding the boundary between what is safe and what can be harmful is vital, a theme that resonates throughout Alker's exploration of health and safety.

[Jackie Schoenherr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would it have been helpful if I had read this book BEFORE I ate some moldy cottage cheese? Should I "pspspsp" all of the jellies I see on my next snorkeling adventure? Would Ashely approve of either of these choices? The answer to all of these questions, and more, are here! In this book! 


I loved this book for so many reasons. First, I need to heap my praises upon the author. She delivers important medical information in a concise, easy to understand way with the right amount of dark humor and wit. Ashely is incredibly smart and has the resume to prove it, and I am so happy that her knowledge and experiences have gifted us this beautiful brain baby of a book. 


Second, Ashely has smoothly interwoven equality of the sexes into her recommendations throughout this book. Medicine has to take socioeconomic factors into account and does not exist in a vacuum, and Ashely brings that perspective to life in each chapter. Feminism for the win baby.


Third, I personally think it is very exciting to have a book like this - a snapshot in time of our current scientific understanding of various diseases and pathologies. I can't wait to read this book again in 5-10 years just to see how far we have come as a collective. Maybe Ashely will have to write us a sequel 👀


If you have any morbid curiousity at all, or are a hupochondriac seeking life saving knowledge, this book is absolutely for you! READ IT

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed reading 𝟗𝟗 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐞. It’s an incredible mix of fascinating, laugh-out-loud funny, and downright alarming. Written with amusing wit, Dr. Alker does an amazing job of keeping the reader fully engaged while balancing information with entertainment in a way that never feels dry or clinical.

The book is packed with a wide range of topics, including animals, drugs (both recreational and prescription), poisons, food, modes of transportation, and so much more. Each section is compelling and often surprising, making it hard to put down.

I also learned quite a few new things along the way, most notably that the long-held belief that it’s imperative to keep someone with a concussion awake is actually a 𝘮𝘺𝘵𝘩. That alone made the read feel especially worthwhile.

Overall, 99 Ways to Die is a fun, illuminating, and thought-provoking book that manages to educate while keeping a sharp sense of humor. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys learning unexpected facts delivered with wit and intelligence.

Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy