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99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them
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
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
Audible Audio
First published January 13, 2026
167 people are currently reading
15293 people want to read
About the author
Ashely Alker
1 book70 followersAshely 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
September 18, 2025
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.
December 1, 2025
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.
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.
October 22, 2025
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.
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.
October 17, 2025
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.
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.
October 20, 2025
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.
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.
September 23, 2025
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.
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.
October 22, 2025
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.
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.
November 7, 2025
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.
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.
September 16, 2025
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.
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.
September 13, 2025
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.
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.
January 21, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is available now.
I was fascinated by the title. Who wouldn’t want to learn how to avoid death?? The author is an ER doctor and she’s seen it all.
I found the book to be funny and informative. There are a LOT of facts, history, statistics on 99 causes of death and my interest level varied drastically. For example, I was less interested the chapters on Leprosy and Recreational Drugs but more so in environmental factors like Food and the Elements.
I would suggest reading the sections most likely to impact your life.
Dr. Walker also serves as a technical consultant and medical screenwriter, with the aim of providing scientifically accurate messages on TV and in films. Bravo!
I was fascinated by the title. Who wouldn’t want to learn how to avoid death?? The author is an ER doctor and she’s seen it all.
I found the book to be funny and informative. There are a LOT of facts, history, statistics on 99 causes of death and my interest level varied drastically. For example, I was less interested the chapters on Leprosy and Recreational Drugs but more so in environmental factors like Food and the Elements.
I would suggest reading the sections most likely to impact your life.
Dr. Walker also serves as a technical consultant and medical screenwriter, with the aim of providing scientifically accurate messages on TV and in films. Bravo!
August 11, 2025
This is equal parts survival guide, medical memoir, and darkly comic “well, that escalated quickly” trivia compendium. Dr. Ashely Alker takes you through the many indignities and absurdities of human mortality—from venomous creatures to bad romantic decisions—with the brisk authority of an ER doctor and the dry wit of someone who’s seen it all and still shows up to work anyway.
As a practical resource, it covers a lot of common-sense territory (wash your hands, wear sunscreen, don’t antagonize hippos), which can feel a touch obvious at times, I wouldn’t call these the “most terrifying ways to die,” but Alker sprinkles in humor and oddly specific anecdotes that keep even the more familiar advice from becoming a total slog. It’s not quite a life-changer, but it is the sort of book you can dip into before bed or with your morning coffee, leaving you better informed and maybe slightly more paranoid to live life.
Think of it as a dressed up safety manual: a little outrageous, a little educational, but not above using a dramatic death scenario to make sure you remember to hydrate.
3.5 stars
As a practical resource, it covers a lot of common-sense territory (wash your hands, wear sunscreen, don’t antagonize hippos), which can feel a touch obvious at times, I wouldn’t call these the “most terrifying ways to die,” but Alker sprinkles in humor and oddly specific anecdotes that keep even the more familiar advice from becoming a total slog. It’s not quite a life-changer, but it is the sort of book you can dip into before bed or with your morning coffee, leaving you better informed and maybe slightly more paranoid to live life.
Think of it as a dressed up safety manual: a little outrageous, a little educational, but not above using a dramatic death scenario to make sure you remember to hydrate.
3.5 stars
January 17, 2026
* thanks to St. Martin's Press for the NetGalley review copy (pub date: January 13, 2026)
Loved this - humorous tone, with just enough snark, and very informative. My favorite sections were all the parasites, vaccine-preventable diseases, and poisons. Didn't love the animal and heart disease sections as much, but overall this was an entertaining read!
Loved this - humorous tone, with just enough snark, and very informative. My favorite sections were all the parasites, vaccine-preventable diseases, and poisons. Didn't love the animal and heart disease sections as much, but overall this was an entertaining read!
January 17, 2026
📖 Story: Dr. Ashely Alker is an emergency medicine doctor who has seen it all. In this book, she walks readers through 99 ways to die and how to avoid or handle them in order to escape certain death. She covers a wide range of situations and conditions, including drugs, sex, poison, animals, diseases, and crime, while sprinkling in real life experiences and wit drawn from her time supporting patients through these very situations.
🎧 Audio: No complaints here. Natalie Naudus does a great job sharing the information in a personable tone and delivers well on the more witty and humorous moments too.
🚩 Red Flags: This is not a book meant to be read in one or even two sittings. It is jam packed with information, and there were only so many infections or conditions I could listen to before my attention started to fade. Some of the situations and the subsequent advice felt a little obvious and very… duh. But I suppose there are people out there who need a reminder not to stick an aerosol SPF can into their butt. Otherwise, we would not have had the privilege of hearing about this particular Dr. Alker experience in the book.
🪴 Green Flags: While the deadly situations and conditions covered here could easily veer into either overly scientific or incredibly mundane territory, Dr. Alker presents them in a relatable and accessible way. My favorite part is the complete lack of fear mongering. She shares the information, offers her advice or recommendations, and then leaves it up to the reader, acknowledging that we are all human beings with full autonomy, to decide what to do with it.
Overall: 99 Ways to Die: And How To Avoid Them was an enjoyable listen. It is smart, humorous, and incredibly informative. Thank you, Dr. Alker, for sharing your knowledge and experiences.
Big thank you to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for this advanced listener’s copy of #99WaysToDieAndHowToAvoidThem!
🎧 Audio: No complaints here. Natalie Naudus does a great job sharing the information in a personable tone and delivers well on the more witty and humorous moments too.
🚩 Red Flags: This is not a book meant to be read in one or even two sittings. It is jam packed with information, and there were only so many infections or conditions I could listen to before my attention started to fade. Some of the situations and the subsequent advice felt a little obvious and very… duh. But I suppose there are people out there who need a reminder not to stick an aerosol SPF can into their butt. Otherwise, we would not have had the privilege of hearing about this particular Dr. Alker experience in the book.
🪴 Green Flags: While the deadly situations and conditions covered here could easily veer into either overly scientific or incredibly mundane territory, Dr. Alker presents them in a relatable and accessible way. My favorite part is the complete lack of fear mongering. She shares the information, offers her advice or recommendations, and then leaves it up to the reader, acknowledging that we are all human beings with full autonomy, to decide what to do with it.
Overall: 99 Ways to Die: And How To Avoid Them was an enjoyable listen. It is smart, humorous, and incredibly informative. Thank you, Dr. Alker, for sharing your knowledge and experiences.
Big thank you to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for this advanced listener’s copy of #99WaysToDieAndHowToAvoidThem!
October 16, 2025
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.
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.
December 3, 2025
This one was not what I expected. I thought there was going to be a lot of interesting stories from the emergency room. There really wasn’t.
Don’t read if you’re a hypochondriac. Or a helicopter mom. Just don’t.
This book is super technical in places. Probably great for doctors, but not so much for the average person who is reading this.
Random pacing and tangents. A chapter about tick-borne diseases turned into a rant about insurance companies and metrics. A section on the hyatid worm, which only shows up about 5 times a year in the U. S., turned into a diatribe about how the U.S. leaves its patients behind. While I don’t disagree with her assertions, they seemed ill-placed.
Some of the author’s comments are absolutely hilarious. Reading about rabies shouldn’t make me laugh, but it did…
I did learn quite a bit from this book and I will try to remember the lessons, while not becoming paranoid that death is around every corner.
This one releases on January 13, 2926. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Don’t read if you’re a hypochondriac. Or a helicopter mom. Just don’t.
This book is super technical in places. Probably great for doctors, but not so much for the average person who is reading this.
Random pacing and tangents. A chapter about tick-borne diseases turned into a rant about insurance companies and metrics. A section on the hyatid worm, which only shows up about 5 times a year in the U. S., turned into a diatribe about how the U.S. leaves its patients behind. While I don’t disagree with her assertions, they seemed ill-placed.
Some of the author’s comments are absolutely hilarious. Reading about rabies shouldn’t make me laugh, but it did…
I did learn quite a bit from this book and I will try to remember the lessons, while not becoming paranoid that death is around every corner.
This one releases on January 13, 2926. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I will never look at (or avoid) bats and armadillos the same way.
As an ER doctor, Dr. Alker has seen it all. She brings her frontline experience to the page, but instead of being clinical or detached, she writes like a knowledgeable friend who wants you to stay out of her emergency room.
While the title sounds macabre, the content is deeply empowering, while remaining entertaining. It’s not just a list of "what could go wrong"—it’s a practical manual on how to mitigate risks, a historical overview, and a fascinating, heartfelt account of personal experiences in the field.
Chock full of nauseatingly interesting facts (did you know a study indicated 70% of grocery cart handles tested positive for feces?), it's one of those rare reads that you’ll find yourself quoting to friends and family long after you’ve put it down.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As an ER doctor, Dr. Alker has seen it all. She brings her frontline experience to the page, but instead of being clinical or detached, she writes like a knowledgeable friend who wants you to stay out of her emergency room.
While the title sounds macabre, the content is deeply empowering, while remaining entertaining. It’s not just a list of "what could go wrong"—it’s a practical manual on how to mitigate risks, a historical overview, and a fascinating, heartfelt account of personal experiences in the field.
Chock full of nauseatingly interesting facts (did you know a study indicated 70% of grocery cart handles tested positive for feces?), it's one of those rare reads that you’ll find yourself quoting to friends and family long after you’ve put it down.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2025
Being one of those “let’s think of every possible worst case scenario” people, I figured 99 ways to Die (and How to Avoid Them) would be right up my alley.
Dr. Ashely Alker serves up a host of things that can kill us—from environmental causes, animals, food, other humans—in easily digestible sections. Her frank and often sarcastic commentary make an otherwise straightforward medical text infinitely more enjoyable, though I would recommend this as a coffee table book to read here and there rather than straight though, as I did for this review. And of course some there’s a wide variety of information, so of course not everything will apply to everyone (I most likely won’t be traveling to Australia and messing with their wild life!).
I also appreciate that the tone of the book is informative rather than preachy and while a lot of the pages include common sense and general knowledge (not giving babies honey was mentioned as a biggie, but don’t most people know this?), there’s plenty that’s either novel or a good reminder.
Thanks to the publisher for making this book available to read and review through NetGalley.
Dr. Ashely Alker serves up a host of things that can kill us—from environmental causes, animals, food, other humans—in easily digestible sections. Her frank and often sarcastic commentary make an otherwise straightforward medical text infinitely more enjoyable, though I would recommend this as a coffee table book to read here and there rather than straight though, as I did for this review. And of course some there’s a wide variety of information, so of course not everything will apply to everyone (I most likely won’t be traveling to Australia and messing with their wild life!).
I also appreciate that the tone of the book is informative rather than preachy and while a lot of the pages include common sense and general knowledge (not giving babies honey was mentioned as a biggie, but don’t most people know this?), there’s plenty that’s either novel or a good reminder.
Thanks to the publisher for making this book available to read and review through NetGalley.
November 5, 2025
At first glance this might not be the best book to read for someone that has an irrational fear of death. Despite that this sounded super interesting and I decided that I had to read it.
This book covered a bunch of different things that can and have killed people. It is written in an easy to digest manner with a really good sense of humor sprinkling jokes all throughout. I loved this book so much. I read it in a single day. I just couldn’t put it down. Each topic was super interesting. There was a good combination of things that are well known and more niche topics that not a lot of people are going to know about before hand. I had an amazing time with this, I highly recommend it, and I really want to read more from the author in the future.
This book covered a bunch of different things that can and have killed people. It is written in an easy to digest manner with a really good sense of humor sprinkling jokes all throughout. I loved this book so much. I read it in a single day. I just couldn’t put it down. Each topic was super interesting. There was a good combination of things that are well known and more niche topics that not a lot of people are going to know about before hand. I had an amazing time with this, I highly recommend it, and I really want to read more from the author in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As a nurse, this was an interesting and entertaining read. It is definitely friendly in terms of layman's terms to where medical jargon is not thrown excessively to explain things for those not in the medical field, while also providing some humor (especially with a lot of pop culture references). I love how Dr. Alker stresses the importance in situations in knowing when going to the ER vs. Urgent Care or a PCP is warranted. Pick this one up if you find it interesting as you won't be disappointed.
As a nurse, this was an interesting and entertaining read. It is definitely friendly in terms of layman's terms to where medical jargon is not thrown excessively to explain things for those not in the medical field, while also providing some humor (especially with a lot of pop culture references). I love how Dr. Alker stresses the importance in situations in knowing when going to the ER vs. Urgent Care or a PCP is warranted. Pick this one up if you find it interesting as you won't be disappointed.
Read
January 29, 2026I don't recommend listening to this book as you fall asleep. Wow! Were my dreams weird. Ha! A book written for those who would voluntarily walk into a House of Horrors Wax Museum. Straight-forward and brief in its description of the many, many problems which have been seen in ER rooms across the country, this book will have you freaking out about diseases, animals, and other things which could possibly kill that you never knew about before reading this book. The narrator does a great job listing the facts and then allowing her voice to drip with snark as she tells you what commonsense already should have: snakes should be left alone! This book is not for the paranoid or faint of heart.
September 15, 2025
Hi, death? Facts? Love.
This book is not organized the way I thought something like this would be, but I am not mad. I love the pithy summaries for each cause. It makes for an easy read.
This book is not organized the way I thought something like this would be, but I am not mad. I love the pithy summaries for each cause. It makes for an easy read.
December 28, 2025
Thank you to @StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #99WaysToDie. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
The author is an emergency physician and her "seen everything" approach to the many things that can kill us makes for a pretty fun read. Broken down into broad sections like infections, Alker provides brief explanations of the various things that can kill. All of the science is explained in a way that is easy to understand. They are often illustrated with stories from the ER trenches and told with a good amount of humor.
Some of the topics/sections aren't given as much attention or lack the humor and that creates a bit of an uneven reading experience, but overall, this was an educational and funny read and it reminded me a little of Mary Roach.
The author is an emergency physician and her "seen everything" approach to the many things that can kill us makes for a pretty fun read. Broken down into broad sections like infections, Alker provides brief explanations of the various things that can kill. All of the science is explained in a way that is easy to understand. They are often illustrated with stories from the ER trenches and told with a good amount of humor.
Some of the topics/sections aren't given as much attention or lack the humor and that creates a bit of an uneven reading experience, but overall, this was an educational and funny read and it reminded me a little of Mary Roach.
February 8, 2026
Informative AND entertaining. Win-win. I thought it was great.
January 20, 2026
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.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #MacmillanAudio for this ARC.
January 14, 2026
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. 🧬☠️💉
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. 🧬☠️💉
December 31, 2025
I fear this is all I’ll be talking about for the foreseeable future.
Honestly, I haven’t been this excited about a book since reading Mary Roach’s Stiff. I’m sure that says something about me, but I’d rather not linger on it.
99 Ways to Die is both wildly informative and darkly comedic. I so appreciate the author’s ability to teach while entertaining, though I admit she’s also left me slightly more anxious about my odds of survival.
The book is divided into various categories, including infections, heart disease, sex, animals, poison and crime. I particularly enjoyed the subsection on Australian fauna. If I didn’t already believe Australia had the power to smite me, I certainly do now.
If I have one critique, it’s that I think the book would benefit from illustrations or photographs. Perhaps the concern was that it might veer too graphic, but in cases of infections and diseases, visuals would have been helpful. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to gaze at an adorable koala while simultaneously learning the myriad ways it might kill you?
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and Ashley Alker, M.D., for the advanced reader and listener copies. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
EDITED 12/31/2025: Coming back to this to add my quick thoughts on the audiobook. Ashley herself narrates the book’s intro, which I loved, and one of my favorite narrators from 2025 narrates the rest. From magical mobs to medicine, Is there anything Natalie Naudus can’t do? Highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend the audiobook, particularly considering the lack of visuals within the book itself.
Honestly, I haven’t been this excited about a book since reading Mary Roach’s Stiff. I’m sure that says something about me, but I’d rather not linger on it.
99 Ways to Die is both wildly informative and darkly comedic. I so appreciate the author’s ability to teach while entertaining, though I admit she’s also left me slightly more anxious about my odds of survival.
The book is divided into various categories, including infections, heart disease, sex, animals, poison and crime. I particularly enjoyed the subsection on Australian fauna. If I didn’t already believe Australia had the power to smite me, I certainly do now.
If I have one critique, it’s that I think the book would benefit from illustrations or photographs. Perhaps the concern was that it might veer too graphic, but in cases of infections and diseases, visuals would have been helpful. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to gaze at an adorable koala while simultaneously learning the myriad ways it might kill you?
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and Ashley Alker, M.D., for the advanced reader and listener copies. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
EDITED 12/31/2025: Coming back to this to add my quick thoughts on the audiobook. Ashley herself narrates the book’s intro, which I loved, and one of my favorite narrators from 2025 narrates the rest. From magical mobs to medicine, Is there anything Natalie Naudus can’t do? Highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend the audiobook, particularly considering the lack of visuals within the book itself.
October 18, 2025
This book lists a number of ways to die, and each section provides a scientific explanation of why the occurrence is dangerous, how to avoid the thing, and sometimes a witty or humorous personal anecdote of the author's ER experience with the thing. I enjoyed this book. However, I frequently wished two things: 1) I wished the how to avoid section was more robust because that was my main motivation for reading. Instead, the two biggest sections were always the science of how and the anecdote. 2) The title should be noted as 99 Ways to Die and NOT 99 Common Ways to Die. At least half of the things in the book are a bit obscure. I'm never going to Australia, so that whole section is pretty inapplicable to me.
My most major criticism of the book, though, was that, while there was a section on murder, crime and serial killers, there was NO section on domestic violence. Which I thought was an oversight, since that's such a popular way for women to die.
Again, there was plenty of interest and humor so it's worth a read. I just thought those were a few drawbacks.
Of note is that this book is primarily about adults and adult injuries. If you are searching for a similar book about avoiding child deaths, I recommend Keeping Your Kids Out of The Emergency Room. However, there is no humor in that book, so don't expect it.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
My most major criticism of the book, though, was that, while there was a section on murder, crime and serial killers, there was NO section on domestic violence. Which I thought was an oversight, since that's such a popular way for women to die.
Again, there was plenty of interest and humor so it's worth a read. I just thought those were a few drawbacks.
Of note is that this book is primarily about adults and adult injuries. If you are searching for a similar book about avoiding child deaths, I recommend Keeping Your Kids Out of The Emergency Room. However, there is no humor in that book, so don't expect it.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
November 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an unbiased review.
2.5 stars, rounded up.
Oof, this was a massive disappointment.
I am a science nerd, and I adore weird, gross trivia. I love everything Mary Roach has ever written (except that Reader's Digest crap). So when I read the description of this book, I was very excited to read it: An ER doc lists 99 ways to die that she's witnessed, and shares the "hilarious" stories to go with them.
But this book suffered from several problems.
1. The editing was awful. The book itself is way too long and repetitive, there are far too many chapters and subjects, the technical detail is far too much for a casual reader, and the anecdotes don't seem to make sense with the chapter's subject.
2. This book could have been a fun, yet informative romp through potential fatalities. Instead, the reader is overloaded with background and technical data that, if the reader is like me, WE DID NOT SIGN UP FOR. Even the entire How Sex Can Kill You chapter manages to be boring.
3. The author's voice has occasional sparks of humor, but for the most part feels forced, immature, and poorly scribed.
After taking 4 days just to get through 35% of this book, I did something I almost never do: I skimmed the rest. It was just not engaging, and reading this book felt like work.
It's truly a shame, because this book had SO much potential.
2.5 stars, rounded up.
Oof, this was a massive disappointment.
I am a science nerd, and I adore weird, gross trivia. I love everything Mary Roach has ever written (except that Reader's Digest crap). So when I read the description of this book, I was very excited to read it: An ER doc lists 99 ways to die that she's witnessed, and shares the "hilarious" stories to go with them.
But this book suffered from several problems.
1. The editing was awful. The book itself is way too long and repetitive, there are far too many chapters and subjects, the technical detail is far too much for a casual reader, and the anecdotes don't seem to make sense with the chapter's subject.
2. This book could have been a fun, yet informative romp through potential fatalities. Instead, the reader is overloaded with background and technical data that, if the reader is like me, WE DID NOT SIGN UP FOR. Even the entire How Sex Can Kill You chapter manages to be boring.
3. The author's voice has occasional sparks of humor, but for the most part feels forced, immature, and poorly scribed.
After taking 4 days just to get through 35% of this book, I did something I almost never do: I skimmed the rest. It was just not engaging, and reading this book felt like work.
It's truly a shame, because this book had SO much potential.
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