99 Ways to Die: And How to Avoid Them

Emergency medicine doctor Alker (Goodnight Grandma Angel) explores in this witty yet indispensable guide 99 of the “most terrifying, interesting, and unfortunate ways to die.” Drawing on her experience as a “board-certified death escapologist,” Alker assumes the role of a medical translator, explaining common ailments like strep throat and flu, rare encounters such as with brain-eating amoebas and sharks, and everyday accidents from car crashes to drowning. One chapter is dedicated entirely to sex, illustrating how for most women pregnancy is “the most dangerous undertaking of their lives” and how the sexually transmitted disease HPV can cause cervical and penile cancer. Another is dedicated to warfare, demonstrating how toxic chemicals have been used as weapons and how atomic bombs can decimate large areas and emit lethal radiation. Throughout, she offers tips for avoiding these wide-ranging dangers: if you wake up with a bat in your room, get a rabies vaccine immediately; never ignore chest pain; don’t give a baby raw honey. Alker balances a tongue-in-cheek tone with honest reflections on death, which she says “is the force that defines human life as a temporary, precious spark of magic.” Readers who want to be prepared for the worst will treasure this. (Feb.)