By Ashley Alker, MD – St Martin’s Press, 2026
Maybe you’re someone who, thanks to cartoons, grew up believing that quicksand was a viable threat. 99 Ways to Die is a hilariously grim yet surprisingly comforting ride through the kinds of dangers most of us would rather not think about—until they are forced upon us. Written by emergency medicine doctor Ashley Alker (who jokingly calls herself a “death escapologist”), the book offers 99 real-life ways that people get into trouble, paired with clear, practical advice for staying above it.
The tone is what sets this medical text apart. Alker can shock you and make you laugh in the same breath, without ever losing the point—public health and prevention matter (even if, as she quips, that’s “bad for business” in the ER). The chapters span everything from infections and disease to animals, drugs and poison, crime, sex, the elements, and more, often anchored by stories from the author’s life and work. It’s sometimes funny, sometimes tender, sometimes heartbreaking—and it’s packed with smart guidance that might genuinely keep you, and the people you love, alive.
