"In 100 Animals That Can F-cking End You, TikTok star Ndiaye (@mndiaye_97) lays out a convincing argument that there are plenty of reasons to fear everything from porcupines to giraffes. Considering the viral animal interactions that often end with humans being put in their place, it may be one of the most important books you’ll read all year."—Mental Floss

★ 12/01/2022

Self-described "internet zoologist" Ndiaye gleefully expounds on the rather large number of animals who can kill a human. The author gained a huge following posting animal-related videos on TikTok during the COVID lockdown and makes a great narrator of his own work. He combines facts with humor and an ability to include ingenious turns of phrase that will make listeners determined to hear every word. Mostly focused on the ways one can meet their maker, there are also some survival tips, and, if those fail, suggestions on how to make peace at the end. The print version of this book contains lots of great photos and graphics, but the audio makes one feel like they are in the room with the author, which is a fun place to be. VERDICT Recommended for nature lovers, anyone who spends time watching cute animal videos, and science buffs. Some adult language is included, so beware of recommending to young children. Do your patrons a favor and make this delightful audio book available to them. Most everyone else will thank you.—Christa Van Herreweghe

★ 06/01/2022

Environmental science field technician Ndiaye has gained over 14 million followers on TikTok by sharing his knowledge of obscure animals. His new book provides humorous descriptions of deadly animals, along with a rating of how likely they are to kill based on multiple factors. Ndiaye calls this the merk rating, on a scale of one to 10. Some of the animals are expected: the Bengal tiger scores a 10 with a bite force twice as intense as the lion's and an ability to imitate the mating calls of other animals. Others are more unexpected. The cone snail, a tiny creature with a beautiful shell, earned a merk rating of 7.5 as its venom induces muscle paralysis and difficulty breathing. This alphabetical listing of animals "likely to put an R.I.P. in front of your name" is periodically broken up with factoids like "Four Bugs You Should Social Distance From," "Six Animals You Didn't Know Were Cannibals," and "Animals That Look Deadly but Aren't." Ndiaye's dark wit prevents the book from becoming monotonous. This is a perfect mixture of coffee-table book and laugh out loud ghoulish trivia. VERDICT Although not necessarily an essential purchase, this book is recommended for libraries where humorous books circulate well.—Grace Caternolo