How to Become Extinct

by Will Cuppy

Book Overview

A funny view of the very worst members of the animal kingdom whose continued existence is not necessarily a foregone conclusion. Zoologically accurate, yet hilarious, these forty brief, witty essays... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226128261
• ISBN13: 9780226128269
• Release Date: January 1983
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 114 Pages
• Weight: 0.37 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Aristotle Indeed!

This one is mostly about fish, reptiles, and Aristotle, not necessarily in that order. (You will find Aristotle under reptiles.) Plus full instructions on how to become extinct, should that option appeal to you. And snippets about some of the animals that have mastered the art of extinction, such as the dodo, "the ultimate in extinction," which "seems to have been invented for the sole purpose of becoming extinct." And if you are thinking of adding a snake to your family circle, Cuppy gives you a few points to consider before making that kind of commitment. Anything by Cuppy is worth reading, and this one is no exception. My only complaint is that my University of Chicago edition is in smaller type than I would prefer for easy reading. But the text is superb and the illustrations by Steig are first-rate.

Aristotle Indeed!

This one is mostly about fish, reptiles, and Aristotle, not necessarily in that order. (You will find Aristotle under reptiles.) Plus full instructions on how to become extinct, should that option appeal to you. And snippets about some of the animals that have mastered the art of extinction, such as the dodo, "the ultimate in extinction," which "seems to have been invented for the sole purpose of becoming extinct." And if you are thinking of adding a snake to your family circle, Cuppy gives you a few points to consider before making that kind of commitment. He is against making pets of snakes, but concedes that he might not have met the right snake. Anything by Cuppy is worth reading, and this one is no exception. The text is superb and the illustrations by Steig are first-rate.

I love it!

This book nearly escaped my knowledge. What I mean is, my parents were about to donate it before I had ever heard of it. Preventing them from doing so may be one the best things that has ever happened to me. I couldn't resist the book simply from the title, and the rest of the book is just as funny (whether or not it actually holds the instructions for the extinction process). As another review states, very dry humour. I once wrote a note to myself saying, "Remember: if you want to laugh out loud, read How to Become Extinct." And it's true.

Cuppy Humor for Fishermen and Nature Lovers

Very funny if you like dry humor. Had me laughing out loud. Fishing "advice" covers topics from minnows and carp to salmon and pike. Additional chapters on Reptiles, Dinosaurs, and Insects. "The Salmon have strange ideas; they are afraid of parsley and slices of lemon." "Aristotle's discovery that snakes and fish have no feet is a keen bit of observation for an ancient Greek." One can sense that Carlin and Seinfeld took some lessons from Cuppy's observational humor.