Book Review: How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite by Chris Balakrishnan and Matt Wasowski

This review was first published by Booklist on December 22, 2023.

How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi is a selection of various Nerd Nite presentations collected in written form. As one would expect from Nerd Nite, these presentations range across a remarkable array of subjects, and they vary in length (although none is more than a handful of pages). The 71 essays collected here are loosely arranged into 11 topics (animals, space, math, bodily fluids, etc.) and span the gamut from stories of animal procreation to how cups of tea led to better scientific, experimental protocols to the multiple definitions of infinity. The appeal of Nerd Nites—people presenting information on subjects they’re passionate about—translates well into book form. It’s quirky, fun, engrossing, and informative. It’s a delightful collection! Perfect for existing fans of Nerd Nite, it also serves as an ideal introduction for anyone who may not have heard of these gatherings before. It should appeal to nerds and information lovers of all ilk, despite some salty language and subject matter.