Random Illustrated Facts

by Mike Lowery

[annieb123]

I'm so glad I got to review this book from NetGalley. Once in a while a book comes along that ticks all the boxes. This one does. It's funny and weird and the art finds the perfect balance between folk primitive and goofy. It's not easy at all to draw clearly and well and with character. Mike Lowery has been at it for years.
I am a trivia junkie and this book scratched my itch. If you're 'that person' at work.. the one who has all the trivia, the one people look at in wonder and say 'how the heck...what the heck? How did you KNOW that?!' then this book will give you even more ammo for amazement and mirth around the water cooler. If you're NOT that person, but want to be, well, here's your new secret weapon.

These full page cartoons are collected into five parts dealing with diverse (very diverse) topics such as science, everyday things, and food and drinks. The temptation of course, when reviewing this sort of book (well, not exactly this sort, since in my estimation, it's unique) is to spoil the heck out of it by listing a selection of the contents. I am resisting the urge. You get the cover blurbs, go buy the book! Seriously.

Additionally, in the background/biographical intro, Mr. Lowery states that has been drawing in notebooks nearly daily for a couple decades. This actually gives me some hope. I have masses of notebooks, all bought with firm and grandiose plans to fill them up with drawings and notes and brilliance. 99% of them sit tauntingly on my bookshelves, empty. I'm going to start jotting, maybe drawing. Well done! I think this is one of those things that people (i.e., Mike Lowery) do and make it look effortless when it's not effortless at all.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

Five stars. With bonus stars because that sh*t's not easy.