The series of books by Stephen Pile listing the great heroic failures of our time is surely one of western civilisation’s greatest moments. Here is a couple of hundred pages packed with tales of people comprehensively failing at whatever they have set out to achieve. It’s the type of book you can open at any page, read an entry, piss yourself laughing, and amid growing concern for your wellbeing by those in the vicinity, get on with your life. Examples include “The Least Accurate Map” (which had ramblers mistakenly hiking through a hospital ward) and “The Least Successful Fun Festival” (amongst other problems, the booked Elvis impersonator, some chap named Rupert, failed to turn up).

No matter how many times you read this you will get a laugh. ( )

Surprisingly, at least as funny as its predecessor. Don't read it anywhere you'll be embarrassed to laugh out loud. ( )