If you loved

Books like The Know-It-All

A hilarious, trivia-stuffed romp through the alphabet that accidentally discovers the difference between being smart and being wise. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with The Know-It-All.

lighthearted
inquisitive
mildly neurotic
cozy

01
Drop dead healthy
Jacobs, A. J.
A hilarious, immersive dive into the exhausting and contradictory world of modern wellness.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- inquisitive
- self-deprecating
02
The Year of Living Biblically
Jacobs, A. J.
A hilarious, surprisingly tender experiment in taking ancient rules entirely too literally in the modern world.
Shares:
- inquisitive
- wry
- self-deprecating
- earnest
03
The book of general ignorance
John Mitchinson and John Lloyd
A delightfully cheeky reality check that dismantles everything you thought you learned in school.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- wry
- curious
04
The pleasures of reading in an age of distraction
Alan Jacobs
A playfully irreverent and deeply encouraging guide that grants you permission to read whatever brings you joy, entirely without shame.
Feels:
- liberating
- warm
- intellectually stimulating
05
Brainiac
Ken Jennings · 2007
A joyful, fast-paced romp through the history and subcultures of trivia, anchored by a charmingly nerdy personal success story.
Shares:
- wry
- curious
06
Moonwalking with Einstein
Joshua Foer
A witty, mind-expanding plunge into an eccentric subculture that will completely change how you think about your own brain.
Shares:
- self-deprecating
- curious
07
The Great Passage
Shion Miura
A warm, quiet celebration of the meticulous art of dictionary-making and the profound ways language connects us to one another.
Shares:
- cozy
- wry
- earnest
08
Word by word
Kory Stamper
A joyful, irreverent romp through the obsessive and surprisingly messy world of dictionary-making.
Shares:
- cozy
- wry
- self-deprecating
09
Library
Matthew Battles
A sweeping, novelistic journey through the triumphs and tragedies of human knowledge, celebrating the institutions that preserve our history while mourning those we have lost.
Feels:
- intellectual
- somber
- expansive
10
The great unknown
Marcus du Sautoy
A whirlwind, deeply personal tour through the profound mysteries and outer limits of human knowledge.
Shares:
- curious
11
The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time
Will Durant
A pocket-sized passport to the greatest intellectual achievements of human history, delivered with infectious optimism.
Shares:
- earnest
12
Hitch-22
Christopher Hitchens
A smoky, late-night masterclass in intellectual combat and literary friendship, delivered by a fiercely unapologetic raconteur.
Shares:
- wry

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