More Information Than You Require by John Hodgman
Book 31 in Cannonball Read 2
John Hodgman’s More Information Than You Require is another fake trivia book, similar to The Areas of My Expertise, but exploring new area of made-up knowledge. Instead of a list of 500 Hobo Names, you get 500 mole-man names.
A new development in More Information Than You Require is Hodgman’s increased focus on himself, and an increase in material that portrays his narcissistic, self-aggrandizing persona. This persona is a smarter, less political, literary expert version of Stephen Colbert’s assumed persona for his tv show. The fake John Hodgman is obsessed with how his newfound fame as a tv personality makes him better than the rest of us, and the real Hodgman knows just how much to use the fake Hodgman in the book. If that makes any sense.
More Information Than You Require is a pleasant and funny diversion, good for browsing and passing the time.