'Only two things are infinite - the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the universe.' Albert Einstein, Scientific adviser to the Darwin Awards One of the best known and most frequently visited web sites is the Darwin Awards web site. Practically everyone who is on the net has received a Darwin story in their e-mail at one time or another. It is one of those legendary sites which has become part of the fabric of being on-line. Started in 1993 by biologist Wendy Northcutt she set out to collect together and authenticate stories of individuals around the world who, through their stupidity, have 'removed themselves from the gene pool' (i.e. killed themselves). These are the people for whom warnings such as 'coffee is hot' and 'this superman cape does not enable the wearer to fly' were made. This is black humour elevated to its purest commercial form. There are rules here too. The candidate must: exhibit astounding misapplication of judgement; remove himself/herself from the gene pool; be capable of sound judgement; be self selecting (i.e. it was their fault) and the event must be verifiable. The book will contain four types of stories: The Darwin Awards; Honourable mentions; urban legends; personal accounts. The introduction will explain the nature and origin of the awards then the stories will be divided into 18 chapters, ranging from Testosterone Poisoning: Men at Risk; Junk Food Junkie: Food and Drink; Dangerous Liaisons: Unsafe Sex; The Fairer Sex: Femme Fatalities; Argue with God: Science and Religion; Dirty Job: Death at Work and I Fought the Law: Stupid Criminal Tricks. Each chapter will be have a funny introduction and one in six stories will have an 'serious' discussion of its veracity. There will be over 150 stories: ten new stories and the rest from the site.
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In his Notebooks, Lazarus Long argues that "Stupidity is the only universal capital crime; the sentence is death". The Darwin Awards offers proof of just how stupid mankind can be. Taking its title from the cult Web site of the same name which Northcutt set up in 1993, the book offers a collection of cautionary tales of intensely stupid behaviour. Loosely based on Darwin's theory of natural selection, the idea behind the Darwin Awards is that a person can be so stupid that it would be detrimental to the human race for their genes to survive. If, therefore, someone was to behave so stupidly that they died or rendered themselves unable to reproduce, they would be doing the rest of us a favour by removing themselves from the gene pool. It is this self-sacrifice which the Web site--and now the book--applauds and rewards, although, of course, nearly all Darwin Awards are necessarily posthumous. As the book's introduction explains: "If someone does manage to survive an incredibly stupid feat, then his genes de facto must have something to offer [and] he is therefore not eligible for a Darwin award".
Having explained the basic premise behind the awards, the book catalogues examples of foolish, and often extremely funny, misadventures in sections such as watery deaths, fatal ingenuity and sex-related incidents. What sets the Darwin Awards apart from other apparently similar books of urban myths is the care taken by Northcutt to verify the stories which are then classified as "confirmed" (by reputable newspaper articles, or confirmed TV reports), "unconfirmed" and "urban myths". On top of this, the book draws on surveys carried out on the Web site to provide a glimpse into the thoughts of those who use it, strengthening the air that this is more than just fun, it is light-hearted research into the way people think. --Anoushka Alexander
About the Author
Wendy Northcutt majored in Molecular Biology at UC Berkeley, and worked in biological research. After five years working on the Darwin Awards web site in her spare time, she now works as a internet consultant and manages the Darwin Awards website.
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First Sentence
In this chapter lawbreakers and law enforces bump elbows in an informal competition to see who is best suited to lose the fight between good and evil. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
In this chapter lawbreakers and law enforces bump elbows in an informal competition to see who is best suited to lose the fight between good and evil. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By unrealneil
Format:Paperback
I bought this book wanting something that would make me laugh out loud. I was frankly a little disappointed by the quality of what was in the book. If this is the best of silly deaths I can only asume the contributors lead very sheltered lives. True there are some funny stories, but they will at best raise a quiet smile.
By F. Passaro
Format:Paperback
.. that many of the human race really are an enigma! What some of the people in this book have done and how they have left this plane of existence will have you laughing, shocked and horrified all at the same time. A good coffee table book for sure!
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book is a remarkable book, although certainly not for the fainthearted or squeamish among us. They frequently have me laughing and wincing at the same time.
The Darwin Awards are a surefire cure for depression, as you realise that you are not as pathetic a specimen of humanity as you first may have thought.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very funny and well compiled book
Very funny - good for speeches
Published on 15 Jan 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant book of how not to die.
A brillant book about how stupid humans really are. If you want Andy Warhol'a 15 minutes of fame, then die in a stupid way, then get a Darwin Award, just a pity you won't be around... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
People are not dumb? If you believe that, read this!!
Using Darwin's theory of evolution as a starting point, the Darwin Awards have evolved from a fun website to a fine literary work. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2001 by tom.jalowiecki@virgin.net
5.0 out of 5 stars
Words do not describe this
This is so funny, I have been reading these stories on the official website for years and I was always wishing for a book to be made
Published on 5 Jan 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is great!
The Darwin Awards never fail to amuse me, although I admit that I am sometimes laughing and wincing at the same time. Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2001
1.0 out of 5 stars
a collection of stupid but not really that funny stories
The sories in this book really do show stupidity but i havent found any that have really made me laugh. Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2000
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed
I expected the humour of the snippets on the Internet, which often made me laugh out loud. This book took itself much too seriously. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Riotous
I can only read about 3 stories at a time as they are just so funny that I almost wet my pants from laughter.
It would make a great gift book. Read more
Published on 25 Dec 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious guide in how NOT to have an accident
This book tickles the funny-bone as it guides you through losing you last ounce of faith in human sense. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this book now, you wont regret it!
Okay here it is; you have to buy this book. This books is very funny throughout and never has a "flat spot", alough some of the storys will make you wince and what people... Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2000
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