Witty Nonfiction

A Short History of Human Stupidity is a lovingly researched, gleefully irreverent celebration of humanity at its most confident—and most wrong. This is the story of how civilisation was built not just on genius and insight, but on bad ideas pursued with alarming enthusiasm and excellent posture. From scientists who explained the universe with diagrams that meant absolutely nothing, to doctors who prescribed treatments that made patients immediately regret seeking help, to engineers who stared at a drawing and said, “Yes, gravity will probably be fine,” this book chronicles our ...

A Short History of Overconfidence is a witty, sharply observed tour through humanity’s most reliable skill: being absolutely certain just moments before being completely wrong. From prehistoric humans who approached danger with enthusiasm and rocks, to emperors, engineers, scientists, generals, tech innovators, and everyday people who said “this should be simple” far too soon, this book traces how confidence—not caution—has driven human history forward, sideways, and occasionally straight into disaster. Blending solid historical research with dry humour, the book explores why ...

A sparkling celebration of the wit and wisdom of Linda Smith - a 'national treasure' of Radio 4 and BBC TV. Linda Smith was the brilliant mainstay of Radio 4's The News Quiz, Just a Minute, and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue for many years. She was just establishing her career on TV through...