First things first: please know that this is a humor book. It’s not meant to be a scientific bird-watching guidebook. I have no doubt there are countless books that will give serious bird watchers everything they are looking for. The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of the Whole Stupid World will give those looking for a few good belly laughs exactly that.

Author Matt Kracht first wrote the Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Now he expands his irreverent bird humor to every continent. I’ll be honest–my family cringes when I get a book by Matt Kracht. Why? Because they know I’m going to randomly laugh out loud, force them to listen as I read out passages, or shove the book into their protesting hands because I have literally laughed myself breathless.

Hilarious with delightful illustrations and excellent tips to remember–tail up? stuck up!–this is an exceedingly fun book.