Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Books that Prove Reality is Stranger than Fiction
13
items Reality can sometimes be stranger than fiction, just as the saying goes. These books prove that our world can be as strange or stranger than any fictional book.
Sections
3
Cryptozoology
Mysterious Humans and their World
Medical Mysteries
Cryptozoology
Cryptozoology is the study of unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose present existence is disputed or unproven
I first got this book in high school and its a thick book packed with information about, well, the unexplained! It delves into a wide array of mysterious phenomena, including cryptids like the Loch Ness Monster, UFO sightings, and other unexplained o...
Unexplained! - Jerome Clark
The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures explores the origins of legendary beings such as vampires, werewolves, and wendigos. Drawing from his acclaimed podcast, Mahnke explores eerie tales from history, including the haunting of a doll named Robert in...
I adore Aaron Mahnke's books because of how he ties in eerie tales with rationale behind folklore and beliefs. This is a hard one to put down.
I adore Aaron Mahnke's books because of how he ties in eerie tales with rationale behind folklore and beliefs. This is a hard one to put down.
The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures - Aaron Mahnke
This book has been in print for a long time and is often seen as a foundational book for learning more about the pseudoscience known as Cryptozoology.
It is a bit outdated since it came out over twenty years ago but the information is a good start for anyone who doesn't know a lot about Cryptozoology. It was also co-written by Loren Coleman, who is seen as one of the most notable experts in the fie...
It is a bit outdated since it came out over twenty years ago but the information is a good start for anyone who doesn't know a lot about Cryptozoology. It was also co-written by Loren Coleman, who is seen as one of the most notable experts in the fie...
Cryptozoology A To Z: The Encyclopedia Of Loch Monsters Sasquatch Chupacabras And Other Authentic Monsters - Loren Coleman and Jerome Clark
This is a fascinating book written by a professor of anatomy and anthropology that explores the plausibility of bigfoot existing.
Disclaimer: This book is 18 years old at the time of this writing so some information may be outdated but its still worth a read to those interested in bigfoot.
Disclaimer: This book is 18 years old at the time of this writing so some information may be outdated but its still worth a read to those interested in bigfoot.
Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science- Jeff Meldrum
Mysterious Humans and their World
Books that explore mysterious people and the world around them
I adore Aaron Mahnke's story-telling and Cabinet of Curiosities is his most recent work. The Cabinet of Curiosities collects several strange tales from across the world and history itself and organizes them thematically. These include, but are certai...
Cabinet of Curiosities: A Historical Tour of the Unbelievable, the Unsettling, and the Bizarre - Aaron Mahnke
The World of Lore: Dreadful Places explores several locations steeped in eerie folklore and unsettling history. Drawing from his acclaimed podcast Lore, Mahnke guides readers through infamous sites like Colorado's Stanley Hotel—whose haunting legacy ...
This is a great book and I think of the three “World of Lore” books this may have been my favorite.
This is a great book and I think of the three “World of Lore” books this may have been my favorite.
The World of Lore: Dreadful Places - Aaron Mahnke
The World of Lore: Wicked Mortals explores the lives of some of history's most notorious people. Drawing from his acclaimed Lore podcast, Mahnke recounts tales of individuals like William Brodie, a respected Scottish cabinetmaker who led a double lif...
This is a great read, in large part thanks to Mahnke great storytelling.
This is a great read, in large part thanks to Mahnke great storytelling.
The World of Lore: Wicked Mortals - Aaron Mahnke
Atlas Obscura is a book I cannot recommend enough. It is essential the bible of the intriguing and strange in the world we live in. It is chock full of curiosities for everyone--from natural wonders to eclectic art and buildings, unique festivals and...
I also highly recommend the Atlas Obscura website and their other books! Their website in particular allows you to create lists, track things you want to see and have seen, and much more!
I also highly recommend the Atlas Obscura website and their other books! Their website in particular allows you to create lists, track things you want to see and have seen, and much more!
Atlas Obscura, 2nd Edition: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders - Joshua Foer, Ella Morton, and Dylan Thuras
Atlas Obscura: Wild Life takes the incredible formula of the first book and focuses on the natural world. This book is a must-read for those who enjoy learning about amazing living wonders. The book is beautifully formatted and illustrated (much like...
Atlas Obscura: Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders - Cara Giaimo and Joshua Foer
This is a great book that looks at weird things across the United States. It's actually been on my shelf for years and I still go back to it from time to time.
There is a newer book, Weird U.S. The Odyssey continues, but I haven't personally read this one.
There is a newer book, Weird U.S. The Odyssey continues, but I haven't personally read this one.
Weird U.S.: Travel Guide to Local Legends
Medical Mysteries
The human body can be a strange thing and these books prove just that!
This is a great book talking about medical mysteries. Exploding Teeth delves into bizarre afflictions and remedies, such as spontaneous dental detonations, self-performed surgeries, and unconventional treatments like crow's vomit and port-wine enemas...
As someone who loves medical mysteries (and medical history in general) this is a fantastic read.
As someone who loves medical mysteries (and medical history in general) this is a fantastic read.
The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth: And Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine - Thomas Morris
Dr. Sydnee McElroy and Justin McElroy is a husband and wife duo who run a podcast called Sawbones. Sawbones is a witty and enlightening exploration of the bizarre history (and recent history!) of medical practices. This book is a physical manifestati...
I adore their podcast and this book was an instant buy. The illustrations are great as well as the information presented so it was a hard book to put down!
I adore their podcast and this book was an instant buy. The illustrations are great as well as the information presented so it was a hard book to put down!
The Sawbones Book: The Horrifying, Hilarious Road to Modern Medicine - Justin McElroy and Sydnee McElroy
Dr. Mütter's Marvels is a about Thomas Dent Mütter who was a a plastic surgeon in Philadelphia during the mid-nineteenth century. He was a medical innovator who pioneered the use of anesthesia, the sterilization of surgical tools, and a compassion-ba...
I've been to the Mütter museum in Philadelphia and its one of the best museums I've ever been to. Fair warning, it's not for the faint of heart (there are some disturbing things like deformed skeletons and drawers of things removed from people's stom...
I've been to the Mütter museum in Philadelphia and its one of the best museums I've ever been to. Fair warning, it's not for the faint of heart (there are some disturbing things like deformed skeletons and drawers of things removed from people's stom...
Dr. Mutter's Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine - Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz