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Nature is the Worst: 500 Reasons You'll Never Want To Go Outside Again
500 of the most absurd and horrifying things that happen in nature!
Crashing waves, stunning sunsets, sprawling landscapes. Nature is beautiful, right? Wrong. Nature Is the Worst . Need proof? Nature Is the Worst contains hundreds of cringe-worthy, shocking facts you never knew about nature that prove the world is a terrifying--and sometimes very strange--place.
Crashing waves, stunning sunsets, sprawling landscapes. Nature is beautiful, right? Wrong. Nature Is the Worst . Need proof? Nature Is the Worst contains hundreds of cringe-worthy, shocking facts you never knew about nature that prove the world is a terrifying--and sometimes very strange--place.
- GenresNonfictionScienceHumor
272 pages, Paperback
Published January 2, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 28, 2021
Another fun fact book with a dying hope of also providing humor. Why must this be an attempted genre anymore?
Like other attempted factual comedy books this one is a flop due to the jokes are based on either bad pop culture references, vulgarity humor or snarky opinions. As such curse words are commonly found and for those who like things politically correct this definitely won't be the book for you.
The presentation of the book itself is basically for organizing no logical organization. Instead of building from the living world up such as plants, insects, so on the chapters are disorganized and randomly put with water-based and air-based to start off the book while before you get to the last chapter on weather you have reptiles and amphibians, which was preceded by plants. Furthermore as much was grouped together you also couldn't really say these chapters were exclusive.
The layout of the page was where several entries from two on up were included. The title of the article where it was taken from and its source were presented on the side of the page or the bottom of the enry instead of being included in the back as part of an appendix. From there the body of the actual writing is just a blurb of the article followed by an italicized attempt at humor.
The writing itself is dry and a few entries are repetitive although from different sources, which still to me makes it repetitive.
What makes for this being a sad read besides the fact of the humor is the information itself. The selections chosen from the author is already mostly well-known to the world at large whom enjoy factual reads. As a result there isn't really isn't anything new that can be a lure to the eager-to-learn reader.
Did it make me think about wanting to go outside? Not really except perhaps in New Zealand and Australia where I would want to explore an outdoor park but not really know the plants to avoid just as much as the animals.
All in all this writing style just isn't my cup of tea and all the components taken into account would have suggested me avoiding this book at all costs previously.
Like other attempted factual comedy books this one is a flop due to the jokes are based on either bad pop culture references, vulgarity humor or snarky opinions. As such curse words are commonly found and for those who like things politically correct this definitely won't be the book for you.
The presentation of the book itself is basically for organizing no logical organization. Instead of building from the living world up such as plants, insects, so on the chapters are disorganized and randomly put with water-based and air-based to start off the book while before you get to the last chapter on weather you have reptiles and amphibians, which was preceded by plants. Furthermore as much was grouped together you also couldn't really say these chapters were exclusive.
The layout of the page was where several entries from two on up were included. The title of the article where it was taken from and its source were presented on the side of the page or the bottom of the enry instead of being included in the back as part of an appendix. From there the body of the actual writing is just a blurb of the article followed by an italicized attempt at humor.
The writing itself is dry and a few entries are repetitive although from different sources, which still to me makes it repetitive.
What makes for this being a sad read besides the fact of the humor is the information itself. The selections chosen from the author is already mostly well-known to the world at large whom enjoy factual reads. As a result there isn't really isn't anything new that can be a lure to the eager-to-learn reader.
Did it make me think about wanting to go outside? Not really except perhaps in New Zealand and Australia where I would want to explore an outdoor park but not really know the plants to avoid just as much as the animals.
All in all this writing style just isn't my cup of tea and all the components taken into account would have suggested me avoiding this book at all costs previously.
June 23, 2018
I really liked this book; it was very informative and I learned a lot. I shared some of the factoids with my biologist dad and "Proof that God Was Drunk", a nature-themed Facebook group I belong to. I must say, though, that the jokes (many of which reference celebrities and popular TV show) seem like they'll be very dated within just a few years, whereas the factoids definitely will not. I hope E. Reid Ross comes out with more trivia books in the future; I'd happily read them.
May 17, 2020
I’m studying animal biology so I was super excited to read this book. The facts were interesting and I appreciated the addition of the Latin names. HOWEVER the questionable dad jokes at the end of every part were horrible. Cringey bordering on offensive and outdated in places *shudders*.
September 3, 2020
We enjoyed this. I liked the little jokes that were often quite funny, the facts were interesting and at times shocking, and I'm a sucker for a well organized book. I did have a few little complaints, mostly regarding the art, which didn't always seem to match what was being discussed, and that several of his comments hinted at climate change denial, which doesn't sit right with me coming from a science book. I hope I'm simply misinterpreting, but come on, y'all. Climate change is very real, very human made, and very dangerous.
October 11, 2017
Meh. Interesting information, but WAY, WAY, WAY too much snark and sarcasm with every, single entry/factoid.
April 9, 2022
A little too sophomoric to be a true science book. Some of the facts were interesting, but the author's attempt at "grossing one out" were sadly annoying. And the humor was equally juvenile.
March 11, 2022
Ross's humor certainly makes this a fun and easy read. I did get confused often by the accompanying illustrations, which did not always match what was being described at the time.
May 16, 2020
While the fact themselves are interesting, there are far to many crude (and sexual) jokes for my taste. Most of the comments are meant to be funny but somehow miss the mark.
Also several of the reasons could stand a few sentences more, it would seem the author did not want to exceed a certain ammount of words per reason and it did not turn out so well.
Also several of the reasons could stand a few sentences more, it would seem the author did not want to exceed a certain ammount of words per reason and it did not turn out so well.
February 10, 2017
Rodents of Unusual Size (R.O.U.S), Flame Spouts, Deadly Quicksand... These aren't just imaginary and horrific myths meant to keep curious explorers and wanted criminals from venturing into the Fireswamp. They actually exist! That's right. These stranger-than-fiction quirks of nature are actially not fictional at all.
*insert shock-eyed emoji here*
You'll read about these horrors and more in Nature is the Worst: 500 Reasons You'll Never Want to Go Outside Again. This is your handy-dandy travel guide to all the strange, creepy, weird, and downright horrific things you can find in nature if only you dare to look. Some in distant, far-flung locales and others right in your backyard. Sometimes even hidden on your own body (shudder).
If you want a warm and fuzzy story about cuddly puppies, look elsewhere. This book is not for you. But if you want to read more about murderous ducklings, vampire deer, and storms that rain frogs (and other oddities), you'll definitely want to check out Nature is the Worst. In all it's creeping, crawling, pooping, spewing, bloody glory.
One thing's for certain. You'll never see the world the same way again!
The only thing that could have made this book better would have been actual photographs (rather than pen and ink drawings)
*insert shock-eyed emoji here*
You'll read about these horrors and more in Nature is the Worst: 500 Reasons You'll Never Want to Go Outside Again. This is your handy-dandy travel guide to all the strange, creepy, weird, and downright horrific things you can find in nature if only you dare to look. Some in distant, far-flung locales and others right in your backyard. Sometimes even hidden on your own body (shudder).
If you want a warm and fuzzy story about cuddly puppies, look elsewhere. This book is not for you. But if you want to read more about murderous ducklings, vampire deer, and storms that rain frogs (and other oddities), you'll definitely want to check out Nature is the Worst. In all it's creeping, crawling, pooping, spewing, bloody glory.
One thing's for certain. You'll never see the world the same way again!
The only thing that could have made this book better would have been actual photographs (rather than pen and ink drawings)
December 29, 2024
I very quickly learned to skip the 'humorous' section at the end of each entry - which is in italics making it very easy to know where to draw the line - so I have not deducted stars, taking into consideration that not everybody shares the same sense of humour.
The information itself was very interesting and although a few of the sources may not be the most trusted publications, there is still plenty to use as somewhere to start for further research. A really broad range of fascinatingly creepy and often revolting life forms.
The information itself was very interesting and although a few of the sources may not be the most trusted publications, there is still plenty to use as somewhere to start for further research. A really broad range of fascinatingly creepy and often revolting life forms.
March 12, 2023
E. Reid Ross compiles five-hundred terrifying nature facts. He sorts them according to habitat. At the end of each entry is a closing joke.
Ross is vaguely familiar. I think I read some of his articles on Cracked.
The book is average. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
Ross is vaguely familiar. I think I read some of his articles on Cracked.
The book is average. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
June 3, 2018
This book was full of sick shit that animals do including cannibalism, and weird sex acts.
And it was also really funny! four stars!
And it was also really funny! four stars!
dnf
January 30, 2021DNF
February 27, 2017
Quite interesting and hilarious!
February 20, 2017
Okay. Could have done without the author's attempts at humor every single time.
August 7, 2020
Great facts and very entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews