Most of the “what’s the worst book ever/you’ve read” threads I’ve seen include mostly novels and other fiction books, and the few nonfiction books that get recommended are either really obvious (*Mein Kampf*) or one of those quirky self-help books with a naughty word in the title (e.g. *The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck*). I primarily read nonfiction, and I usually try to only read books I think I’m going to enjoy or gain something from. But I am morbidly curious about how bad nonfiction gets.
It can be the worst by any metric you choose: painful writing, awful opinions, blatant lies and misinformation, insufferable author personality, excruciatingly boring, out-and-out evil, or just plain no fun whatsoever. If it’s not a book you’ve read, but you’ve heard near-universal hatred for it, I’ll accept that, too. But if you have read it and can attest to how bad it is, that’s even better. (The books I mentioned earlier are fair game if they really suck that much, by the way; just explain why!)
EDIT: For reference, the worst nonfiction book I’ve read is *Doublespeak* by William Lutz. Fascinating and important premise with genuinely useful information, but the examples of “doublespeak” are excessive, messy, and occasionally flatly incorrect, and I found the writing obnoxious.
by fantasiavhs
4 Comments
May I ask why you’re looking for shitty books lol
If you count Memoirs, [*A Pickle for the Knowing Ones*](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/43453/43453-h/43453-h.htm) by Timothy Dexter. Published in 1802, it’s basically 22 pages of unhinged, incoherent rambling with incorrect spelling written by one of the dumbest wealthy people of the time period. (Seriously, Dexter’s life was just a constant string of upward failures and lucky coincidences that had nothing to do with himself but made him rich.)
IRS Tax Code
Consumed by Aja Barber could’ve used a better editor.