More Information Than You Require

More Information Than You Require is a satirical almanac written by John Hodgman, forming the second installment in his trilogy of mock reference books. The text continues directly from page 237, where his previous book The Areas of My Expertise ended, creating one continuous work across multiple volumes. The book presents itself as a collection of fake facts, historical fabrications, and elaborate hoaxes, all delivered in Hodgman's deadpan expert persona. This volume expands on themes from the first book while introducing new subjects including mole-men, the presidents of the United States, and various supernatural phenomena. The format follows that of traditional almanacs and reference works, complete with tables, lists, and authoritative-sounding pronouncements on diverse topics. The book includes an ongoing project involving 700 "Mole-manic Names" that readers were invited to illustrate through an online community. The work operates as both comedy and commentary on authority, expertise, and the nature of truth in an era of information overload. Through its fabricated facts and pseudo-scholarly approach, it raises questions about how knowledge is created and validated.

Readers call the book funny but exhausting, with many noting it works better in small doses rather than reading straight through. The humor style closely matches Hodgman's Daily Show appearances. Readers appreciated: - Dense footnotes that reward careful reading - Dry, deadpan delivery of absurd facts - Tables and lists that enable skimming - Clever callbacks to previous jokes Common criticisms: - Jokes become repetitive - Too similar to Hodgman's first book - Requires familiarity with his persona - Random humor feels forced at times Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (120+ ratings) Sample review: "Like eating an entire cake - delicious at first but you'll feel sick if you consume too much at once." - Goodreads reviewer Multiple readers recommend the audiobook version, noting Hodgman's delivery adds significantly to the humor.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams A fictional intergalactic reference guide presents absurd facts about the universe through interconnected stories and fabricated science.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman The book combines fake prophecies, historical inaccuracies, and supernatural phenomena in a narrative about the end of the world.

1066 and All That by W. C. Sellar This parody of history books presents British history through deliberate misinterpretations and nonsensical explanations of historical events.

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig The book creates definitions for unnamed feelings through invented words and etymologies in encyclopedia format.

Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders by Joshua Foer The reference book catalogs bizarre locations and inexplicable phenomena with a mix of fact and mythology presented in almanac style.

🔸 John Hodgman gained widespread recognition as the "PC" in Apple's famous "Get a Mac" advertising campaign, appearing alongside Justin Long from 2006 to 2010. 🔸 The book's page numbering starts at 237, exactly where his previous book "The Areas of My Expertise" ended, creating one continuous work across multiple volumes. 🔸 Despite its comedic nature, the book includes actual historical events and figures, cleverly woven among the fictional elements, including real almanac-style lunar tables and tide charts. 🔸 The book contains 700 unique hobo names, continuing a running joke from Hodgman's previous work where he claimed to be an expert on hobo matters and nomenclature. 🔸 Hodgman wrote much of the book while serving as a contributor on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," where he held the title of "Resident Expert" from 2006 to 2015.