Random Curiosities: The Shit I Think About!

by Spiros Scafidas

Why do we spend so much time obsessing over things we barely understand : like the Big Bang, gender politics, luxury branding, or why Birkenstocks suddenly became cool? Why does Fifty Shades of Grey thrive in a feminist age, and why do so many people think aliens built the pyramids?

Random Curiosities doesn’t promise to answer all these questions — but it will definitely make you ask better ones.
This book doesn’t offer a life hack, productivity plan, or 12 steps to a better you. Instead, it invites you into a zigzagging journey through 31 short, sharp, and sideways essays about the weirdness of being human in a universe that doesn’t seem to care much about us — and yet might be more connected than we realize.

It’s part pop philosophy, part science, part cultural commentary.
Think of it like a conversation that starts in the shower, detours through a conspiracy theory, ends in a spiritual crisis, and somehow circles back to why we wear shoes that hurt. You don’t need to read it in order. You don’t need to agree with it. You just need to be curious.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor

155 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 24, 2025

Reviews

[Lazycatfarm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great, fed my squirrel brain. So random, but so many really good explanations of what we are truly doing & not acknowledging today.

[Gerard Rudolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Random Curiosities had me in equal amounts of stitches and surprise.

Scafidas is a writer of rare talent, able to at once entertain and educate without once losing the reader to pomposity. He lays out our world, our history, our very humanity bare by asking and answering - with astonishing clarity and wit - questions we should all be asking ourselves.

This book is perfect for children at bed time as much as it is a perfect companion for traveling adults. I could not put it down.

I suggest you acquire a copy of Random Curiosities and and see for yourself how much of the world you actually understand, and how much of it you merely thought you did.

Personally this gem of a read made me look at the world anew. In my humble opinion not many books of this nature can do that.

I look forward to Random Curiosities 2.

[Georgia]

Sharp, witty and really fun to read!

[Alex Paizes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ross is the master of the simile. He uses several witty analogies to make the concepts and questions he raises relevant and very entertaining. Reading the book has sparked my own curiosity. Well worth reading if you want to read something interesting and refreshing.

[Rozanne Truter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Especially questioning our ancient educational platforms and practices and the hilarious analysis of the rise of Birkenstocks. Plenty of sharp and funny satire - a fantastic read.

[Shelly Katzeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kudos to Ross on this whimsical look at some of life's big questions.
Educational, humorous and easy to easy to read.
Highly recommended.

[Karen Gallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read. Light-hearted and amusing while at the same time thought-provoking and relevant. Highly recommended!

[M Statheros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Random pathways

An excellent summary of our search for meaning on the internet and the myriad avenues it allows us to explore.

Good job Ross 👍

[Shan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Ross for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

Light, fun, thought-provoking read and, of course, the humor mixed in made it that way. Great to wind down before bed. Doesn't go deep into any of the topics and it's not supposed to, but opens your mind for further exploration.

The "To Proud..." and "You're A Man..." topics almost made me stop reading the book. I get what Ross is trying to say and was also trying to be a bit funny but it came off a little insensitive and mean spirited. I even had my husband read these parts and he felt the same. But, this was just a little part in the middle of an otherwise entertaining book and that saved it for me.

[Sharon Greenwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of 31 essays makes for a great companion to keep at hand. It is an easy read that serves as perfect material to dip in and out of over a few weeks – or could easily be a binge read. The flow and vibe work well, especially because the ending of one piece leads directly into the opening of the next.

While I enjoyed the majority of the entries, a few simply did not match my interests. The ones that did hit the mark, however, balanced sharp wit with a satirical tone. The chapters swing between serious topics that provoke deep thinking and light-hearted observations that had me laughing out loud. If you appreciate a conversational style that makes you chuckle while also questioning the world around you, this is well worth your time.

5 Excellent read, Loved it.
4 Enjoyable read, Liked It.
3 Average read, Mediocre.
2 Below average read, Mundane.
1 Regrettable read, nearly a DNF

[Jim Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ross Scafidas's "Random Curiosities" is a delightfully eclectic collection of essays that defies easy categorization. It's a journey through diverse topics, from aliens to quantum mechanics, all woven together with humor and wit.
More an invitation to explore than a source of definitive answers, Scafidas encourages readers to embrace their own inquisitiveness. This book will make you laugh and think, offering a refreshing perspective on the strange business of being human. If you enjoy pop philosophy and cultural commentary, "Random Curiosities" is a highly recommended read that will leave you entertained and perhaps, a little more curious.

[John Banos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't be fooled by the unpretentious title. Ross dives into the most serious and controversial topics affecting our world. From Big Bang to Quantum Entanglement to Ancient Mysticism to Religions to "Fifty Shades of Grey" to Artificial Intelligence. The author mixes these serious topics with analytical rigour; and lots of common sense; and phenominal satire or humour; that makes it extremely difficult to put this book down.

John Banos
Chairman, Banos Asset Management Pty Ltd

[Ryan Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun. I listened to it as an audio book and it was very informative and funny at the same time. I actually laughed out loud quite a few times. The transitions between chapters was especially interesting, I had never read or listened to a book that did something like that. The great thing about this book is even though it is informative it doesn’t get too deep in information. Great book, highly recommend!

[FAITH CUTRELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy this book because It’s worth actually OWNING, like it’s in your hands. I love the title, that’s what pulled me in from the start & the cover artwork was enough to make me smile.
Reward yourself, with something that’s actually rewarding. Man, the S**t I think about would most likely be an unpublishable, fever dream studied in psychiatric circles 🫨 Yours is funny, witty & it pulses with all the things that make you special. I KNOW it’s worth buying in physical format.
When I was sick of watching my For Real Genius, butthead older brother all smug with his reading, I taught myself to read when I was 3. The Giving Tree. Worst book for an INFJ child to learn with. It’s hard to feel triumphant reading it out loud to my parents, and Brother, choking back fresh heartbreak. I think that practicing with that book messed me up, it’s the saddest story ever written 🙃🌲 ANYWAY 👏
That is why books are sacred to me, that I can imagine a place for it in my imaginary treehouse, & I’ve read 1000’s of books, but I’d put your book in my cramped but cozy imaginary library treehouse 😋❤️ 🤗

[Anthony Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, thoughtful a really good read, explains somethings I’ve thought but in ways I’ve never been able to put into words 5*

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

#GoodReadsgiveaway I signed up to win this book because I was fascinated by the title. I understand that this is his first book. Bring on more! I love the topics from out of this world, such as what happened before the Big Bang? To what happens when the universe ends? Does it all go Gray? And speaking of Gray, why is Fifty Shades of Gray so well read in this time of feminism? I love the segues this author makes between his topics. Some of this book made me laugh, some of it made me think did I agree with it all not necessarily. But, I believe that's the whole point of this book is to make one think and come up with your own questions. Please bring us a sequel!

[Miriam Jovanovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy effortless read, sharp and witty. Perfect choice for the hammock.

[Madelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun, curious, non argumentative read about random shit that I am sure we think about often. It was a nice break from reality and put some things in perspective. I appreciate the humor when pretty much talking about how humans and everything sucks, but not to dwell on it, because we are but a "blue dot" in the universe. It was fun, and I definitely enjoyed it!

Thank you to Goodreads for providing me a copy of the book through Goodreads Giveaways!

[Dominique Egbers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. My husband loves philosophical questions and this book presents so many unique questions in a straight forward and thoughtful way. I won a digital copy but had to order physical copies for us and our friends. I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants some fun new ways to spice up their conversations.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started reviewing before, but was trying to correct the rating, and the review was removed. The book started out pretty well, but once the author insulted LGBT people, and started fawning over Trump, I became disgusted, and felt I couldn't rate it more than one star. It has a good bibliography at the end as well as good quotes at the beginning of the chapters. I wouldn't recommend it, sadly.

[Jerry Walch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. If you love truth mixed in with flights of fantasy, you’ll love this book too. Ross writes with a sense of humor that makes some deeply sensitive subjects easy to ponder. If you love the game Trivial Pursuit, you’ll love this book. It's thought-provoking. It’s irreverent and thought provoking at the same time. Scafidas will have you shaking you head in disbelief at times, at other times he will have you saying, here is a guy that really has his shit together.

Scafidas tells us that he didn’t deliberately select the things he wrote about in this book, he just wrote about whatever popped into his mind as he wrote his first draft to Random Curiosities. Judging from the wide variety of topics covered in this 152-page book, I can see that to be true. I think that the only chapters he really planned out were the final chapters where he ties everything that went before them together.

I really love this book and will be keeping it in my eBook library to be read again from time to time.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Random Curiosities by Ross Scafidas

Some of these essays are worth reading. However anyone who actually thinks Elon Musk did anything other than buy successful companies, oust the innovators, and rewrite the narrative to get the general public to believe he created those companies has not been paying attention.
Also, I definitely take exception to his outdated and skewed biases regarding feminism and the tired, long ago disproven tropes about the differences between the sexes and/or genders.
I do agree that people with different opinions should be able to discuss them and learn from each other. Life is very short and we all coexist on a tiny blue dot floating in a vast universe. We should all be striving to make life better for everyone.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve known Ross since we were kids what seems like a million years ago in a city near Johannesburg. Before he became a husband , father, businessman and a world traveler. And what I remember is his interest in exploring everything in search of understanding with discussions running late into the night. Always questioning and never at rest. His book is a reflection of his journeys as he continues to navigate meaning in a complex and multidimensional world.

[Stavros D. Gougoumis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Random Curiosities by Ross Scafidas—a sharp, funny, and endlessly entertaining read. Each chapter feels like a late-night chat about everything from quantum physics to fashion trends, with just the right mix of wit and insight. If you're into smart writing that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this one’s worth picking up.

[George Barbaressos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing, relatable and thoughtfully articulated perspective on a wide range of topics that pop in and out of our minds daily.
Ross shares his views peppered with hilarious analogies, creating aha moments that made me smile, realising there is more fun in thinking about stuff, than there is in pushing ourselves to solve everything.
Thoroughly entertaining!

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Random Curiosities" is a captivating collection of intriguing facts and anecdotes that will delight curious minds, like mine. With its eclectic mix of historical tidbits, scientific oddities and cultural quirks, this book is perfect for those who enjoy reading about fascinating trivia and unexpected insights. A very entertaining and enlightening read! Anthony Eedes

[Timothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Literally semi-random bits of exposition about whatever has the attention of Spiros Scafidas at the time. This reminds me of the compilations of New Yorker or Vanity Fair articles that were published back when those magazines had any relevance. Except Spiros is not as witty or interesting as Dave Barry or (for us old folk) Erma Bombeck.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light perspective on some pretty serious topics. While reading you nod in agreement, or shake your head, but there is always something in the chapter that will make you smile and want to read more.

[Nico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, it was a blast.

The tone is raw, witty, like a late night chat where the whiskey flows and no topic is off limits...
It’s fast paced, funny, and thought-provoking, and I genuinely enjoyed the ride.

[Liz Campbell]

Thank you to Goodreads for the free copy of this book.
It started out strong with interesting info and a funny, relatable voice. It devolved into the rambling of your really stoned friend who thinks he understands the mysteries of the universe and can solve all the world's problems.
DNF'd at 65%