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A book like 'this is going to hurt'?

35 replies

PeaceLoveAndCandy · 19/12/2020 08:51

My DS aged 16 stopped reading a while a go, but from time to time he gets engrossed in something. I bought him 'This is going to hurt' and he absolutely loved it. I wonder if anyone could recommend similar type books?

OP posts:
Nacreous · 19/12/2020 08:56

I think he's done a couple of other books. I also enjoyed "the secret barrister" and I quite enjoyed one about a forensic pathologist too, I think, maybe called unnatural causes?

FleetwoodRaincoat · 19/12/2020 08:57

The follow-up is Twas the Night shift Before Christmas. Is it just humour that he likes or would he read other non fiction?

cheeseismydownfall · 19/12/2020 08:59

If he likes science, you could try the books by Randall Munroe - What If, How to...

They have all been enjoyed by my teen who doesn't read a great deal of fiction any more.

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QueenPaws · 19/12/2020 09:01

He might like "blood, sweat and tea"

MLMbotsgoaway · 19/12/2020 09:03

Here’s a couple
Dark side of the mind - Kerry Danes (prison psychologist. Not as light though
A bit of a stretch - Chris Atkins - this is from a very middle class man who went to prison - similar sort of tone as This is Going to Hurt

Also if it seems he likes non-fiction what about autobiographies of those he likes.

SabrinaThwaite · 19/12/2020 09:04

There’s “Don’t Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs” which is the memoirs of an oil rig worker, but it’s probably rather too colourful (ahem) for a 16 year old (and it’s a more collection of anecdotes than anything serious).

FindHungrySamurai · 19/12/2020 09:04

Seconding the Randall Monroe books, and The Nightshift Before Christmas.

Also perhaps Ben Goldacre’s Bad Science, though it’s not quite such a fun read.

evilkitten · 19/12/2020 09:11

Monday Books publishes a lot of books along these lines - take a look at their catalogue. Blood Sweat and Tea would be my suggestion. My other suggestion would be Horses Arse, which kicks off an absolutely terrific series of four books, but might be a bit more grown up ... lots of rude words.

PeaceLoveAndCandy · 19/12/2020 09:26

The Secret Barrister looks spot on for him, thank you. I am working through your other suggestions...

OP posts:
SwayingInTime · 19/12/2020 09:29

Jon Ronson books? The older ones are funnier and actually really full in some conspiracy theory backgrounds.

SwayingInTime · 19/12/2020 09:29

fill

Northernshepherd · 19/12/2020 09:32

I'm currently listening to unnatural causes mentioned above. It's surprisingly warm given the job he did but very interesting if he's in to the medical side. It doesn't have the same humour spread through that this going to hurt does.

Octoblockswim12345678swim · 19/12/2020 09:33

Jon Ronson is an excellent suggestion, I think the topics he chooses may well appeal. I liked the Psychopath Test.

PeaceLoveAndCandy · 19/12/2020 09:42

Yes I think he'd enjoy conspiracy theories, he enjoys American Politics ( e.g.Trump's ridiculousness) Maths and Music. He also could do with a laugh. Building a nice amazon basket for the boy...Smile

OP posts:
SBAM · 19/12/2020 09:44

Fragile lives by Stephen westaby is an autobiography of a heart surgeon. Not funny like this is going to hurt, but it is very interesting. There’s also one called the prison doctor, I can’t remember the author, but I found that fascinating

AliBingo · 19/12/2020 09:46

Definitely Blood Sweat and Tea

noelgiraffe · 19/12/2020 09:47

Jon Ronson's Them: Adventures with Extremists is great if he's interested in conspiracy theories.

SantasBritchesSpelleas · 19/12/2020 09:48

Theodore Dalrymple - Second Opinion and the follow-up If Symptoms Persist.

noelgiraffe · 19/12/2020 09:49

Maths: Matt Parker's Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension or Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors are both good.

FindHungrySamurai · 19/12/2020 09:54

If he likes maths then Tim Hartford’s How to Make The World Add Up might be good

Aknifewith16blades · 19/12/2020 09:55

Has to be Blood Sweat and Tea.

HigherFurtherFasterBaby · 19/12/2020 09:59

Unnatural Causes is brilliant, and The Prison Doctor is too. I read all 3 over the summer.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 19/12/2020 10:29

Job Ronson, So You've Been Publicly Shamed
Nightshift Before Christmas, definitely.
Maybe a police memoir? Link here

nosswith · 19/12/2020 10:32

Didn't Adam Kay do a follow-up?

GaryTheDemon · 19/12/2020 10:36

The secret barrister is good but I love reading and I found that a bit hard going, a little bit more like an academic tome than ‘this is going to hurt’. There is one called the prison doctor which is very much along the same line as the Adam Kay one.