Westerly Sun Column | Microhistories Make the Mundane Fascinating

I’ve long been a fan of deep dives, and I’m not referring to those of the aquatic nature. No, I prefer to dive into a subject, whether it be through a book, documentary, or Wikipedia article, and learn as much as I can about it. The more random the subject, the better! I just listened to a podcast about raw milk that was – no lie – absolutely thrilling. It was only recently that I learned there is a name for the sort of books that delve deep into uncommon topics: Microhistories.

Mary Roach is arguably one of most popular authors of this genre, known for her nonfiction books that combine humor with offbeat scientific subjects. It all began with “Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers” (2003), which uncovers the unique ways that dead bodies have contributed to science. Most recently, she published “Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy” (2025), a book that explores the various attempts humans have made to replace body parts over the years. If you’re into pop science with a side of humor and a dash of gore, she may be just the author for you.

Mark Kurlansky is another writer of microhistories who manages to make seemingly dull subjects utterly fascinating. In 1997 he released “Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World”, which was later followed by “Salt: A World History”, “The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell” and “Paper: Paging Through History”, among others. His newest book, a rare foray into fiction entitled “Cheesecake” (2025), is about an ancient Roman recipe for cheesecake that becomes all the rage in New York City.

If you enjoy a deep dive, but 300+ pages on one subject is a bit too intense for you, there are plenty of essay collections that could also be considered microhistories, which cover a broader range of subjects. One such title is “A Walk Around the Block: Stoplight Secrets, Mischievous Squirrels, Manhole Mysteries & Other Stuff You See Every Day (and Know Nothing About)” by Spike Carlsen, which will open your eyes to all of the seemingly mundane things that you walk or drive by constantly, but know little about. Another is “Because I said so!” by Jeopardy! champ Ken Jennings, a book that explores (and largely debunks) the many myths and warning that parents have told their kids over the years. Spoiler alert: coffee doesn’t really stunt your growth, your face won’t really freeze in a cross-eyed expression, and that chewing gum you accidentally swallowed will not stay in your stomach for the better part of a decade. I don’t know about you, but my mom has some explaining to do.

All of these books, not to mention thousands more on every subject you can think of, are available through our library consortium!

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian