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Sam Jordison takes a funny look at things that go wrong. He gathers facts about failure, folly, loss and disaster. He looks at forecasts that proved wrong, pride and mistakes. Bad films and albums also have a place here. The book suits fans of odd facts and dark humour.

Jordison gives those who finish last as much space as winners. He finds much to explore in things that go wrong. Nature can pose threats, but it can also help. Both sides of nature can seem strange or funny.

The book sorts its examples into lists of ten. Some cover animals whose design seems poor to some people. Others look at harsh forms of punishment found in myths. There are bleak places and film love scenes that fail. Jordison also looks at kitchen tools with no use. Dull sports and Welsh words that puzzle readers feature too. He also explores fearsome parasites that live on or in humans. The scope thus spans both language and the human body.