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The Theory of Everything Else

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The Theory of Everything Else

By: Dan Schreiber
Narrated by: Dan Schreiber, Jamie Morton, Ella Al-Shamahi, Craig Glenday
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About this listen

This is not a book of facts; it’s a book of ‘facts’. Should you finish it believing we became the planet’s dominant species because predators found us too smelly to eat; or that the living bloodline of Christ is a family of Japanese garlic farmers – well, that’s on you.

Why are we here? Do ghosts exist? Did life on Earth begin after a badly tidied-up picnic? Was it just an iceberg that sank the Titanic? Are authors stealing their plotlines from the future? Will we ever talk to animals? And why, when you’re in the shower, does the shower curtain always billow in towards you?

We don’t know the answers to any of these questions. But don’t worry, no matter what questions you have, you can bet on the fact that there is someone (or something) out there, investigating it on your behalf. From the sports stars who use cosmic energy to office plants investigating murders, The Theory of Everything Else will act as a handbook for those who want to think differently.

©2022 Dan Schreiber (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Agnosticism Customs & Traditions Social Sciences Comedy
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I absolutely loved this book, and Schreiber’s narration of it really brings it to life. He has discovered the most bizarre and fascinating theories from all walks of life, and presents them all with humour and heart. Fantastic.

Bananas and brilliant

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When I was young I used to collect budget compendiums of strange stories, usually compiled by Colin Wilson and the like, which covered all of the key tales that made up the post-war weird stuff scene. I became well read in the fields of cryptozoology & conspiracies, paranormal research & historical mysteries. David Lang’s strange disappearance while crossing a Tennessee field in 1880, marching battalions of see-through Roman or Civil War soldiers witnessed in shop basements and woodland. Retellings of ghost and UFO encounters reawakened unsettling feelings I had back in the local woods as a kid. I guess it’s called hauntology these days.

Of these collections, my most prized were those by Charles Fort. Each was a collection of newspaper cuttings from the 1800s up to around 1930 featuring strange phenomena, but presented with an almost impenetrable early-20th century narration. After a few paragraphs I would usually fall about laughing. Not only at the surreal scenes pictured, but the fanciful language. A lethal combination. My local Our Price stocked Fortean Times and I eagerly subscribed. Through articles about Moon landing conspiracy theories, letters about the fascinating Lewy Body dementia and images of Victorian Hollow Earth pamphlets, I became a Fortean.

Some 30 years later, and my finger-on-the-pulse of Fortean studies well-lapsed, it brings us to this, a very worthy new compendium of the weird as told by podcaster, comedian and writer Dan Schreiber. Touching on most of the subjects mentioned above, we get to look at various theories surrounding everything from the Titanic’s ill-fated final voyage, Uri Geller’s Uri Geller-ness, alien life, ghosts and unusual synchronicity.

With humour never more than a few sentences away, which I think is the correct way to present this type of material, it’s an entertaining ride and re-treads much of what I remember. There is a very personal nostalgia here for me. Well narrated by the author and driven along by his contagious enthusiasm, the collection is not only a great introduction for newbies to the world of the weird, but also excellent further reading for those already acquainted with the vibes contained within.

Schreiber manages to dig up some quite obscure cases and facts alongside the well known examples. And, as with so many of the better books like this, it led me off in various directions for my own investigation. You’ll discover your own, but so far this week for me I’ve enjoyed digging deeper on the clairvoyant composer Rosemary Brown and also the strange case of Enoch Soames. Both were new to me and thoroughly fascinating. I’m sure next week there will be another couple of brief mentions that jump out and beg further reading.

A very enjoyable audiobook and I’ll be keen to revisit those old books of mine and reawaken my inner weirdo.

it reawakened my inner weirdo

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Schreibs does it again.. fascinating, intriguing and well read. Recommend to anyone that likes a bit of batsh*t!

Great

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I enjoyed listening to all the theories and weird stories. Some bits were infuriating but always interesting. Dan Schreiber is very engaging and his sense of wonder and fun is always evident.

Bonkers but fun

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Hugely interesting and entertaining- listening to this has validated some of my odder beliefs and pointed out a myriad of new ones to explore. Thank you!

Excellent bedtime listening

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