The United States of Absurdity is an absolutely ridiculous, yet strangely informative, deep dive into some of the most bizarre moments in American history. Written by Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds, the comedic duo behind The Dollop (one of my favorite podcasts), this book brings their signature mix of humor and historical research to the page in a way that makes you laugh, cringe, and question how half of these events even happened.

The book is packed with short, punchy chapters covering everything from disastrous medical experiments to inexplicably bad decisions by U.S. politicians, all presented in a way that makes history feel less like a dry lecture and more like a fever dream. The writing is snappy, irreverent, and full of the kind of banter that fans of The Dollop will immediately recognize.

Some standout moments include the story of Elmer McCurdy, the outlaw whose mummified body ended up as a carnival attraction, and the absolutely deranged antics of medical quack John Brinkley, who made a fortune implanting goat testicles into men as a cure for impotence. There’s also a healthy dose of absurd sports stories, mind-boggling government missteps, and the kind of historical figures who make Florida Man look like an amateur. My personal favorite was the story of Major League pitcher Rube Waddell.
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If you like your history unfiltered, hilarious, and just a little bit horrifying, The United States of Absurdity is a must-read. It’s perfect for fans of weird trivia, dark humor, and anyone who enjoys learning about the most ridiculous corners of American history.

Reserve the book at the library!

Aimee Clark, IT Librarian

 Redshirts by John Scalzi is a riot! This absurdly funny, meta sci-fi adventure is about a bunch of low-ranking space crew members who realize they're basically cannon fodder. I'm serious, they die a lot. As they try to figure out what's going on, they stumble on this completely bananas truth about their universe.

It's a quick, fun read with tons of witty jokes, crazy plot twists, and a lot of affection for (and playful jabs at) old-school sci-fi. Ever wonder why those random background characters always bite the dust in space? This book totally gets you.

​Sound like your jam? Reserve it at the library here or download the eBook with your SPL card here.

​Aimee Clark, IT Librarian