Drew Magary
Drew Magary has published 8 books across 3 series. The recommended reading order starts with F**king Up the Buttons on a Babygrow (1618).
Drew Magary is an American author and columnist who writes both speculative fiction and nonfiction, moving between dystopian novels and sharp-edged sports humor with the same irreverent voice. He made his debut as a novelist in 2012 with The Postmortal, a dystopian satire that imagines a world without death and earned nominations for both the Philip K. Dick Award and the Arthur C. Clarke Award. His fiction since then includes The Hike and Point B, alongside nonfiction work that ranges from Someone Could Get Hurt, a parenting memoir, to Men with Balls: The Professional Athlete's Handbook.
Magary got his start at the NFL humor site Kissing Suzy Kolber before becoming one of the most popular writers at Deadspin, where recurring features like Why Your Team Sucks and the Funbag mailbag column built his reputation for prose that is sharp, funny, and unafraid to veer into the absurd. He later contributed to GQ Magazine and co-founded Defector, where his voice remains unmistakable. In 2015, he appeared on the television show Chopped and won the ten-thousand-dollar first place prize.
Magary lives in Maryland with his wife and three children.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Non-Fiction Books
- Tagsnon-fictionDescriptionHow do we maintain our sense of self when the chaotic reality of parenting threatens to overwrite everything we used to be? Drew Magary tackles this messy transition with his signature blend of humor and raw honesty, stripping away the sanitized Instagram version of fatherhood to reveal the exhausting, hilarious truth underneath. The atmosphere here is frantic and unrelenting, capturing the specific texture of life with young children where silence is suspicious and sleep is a distant memory. Magary plunges you into the trenches of domesticity, evoking the sensory overload of a house filled with toys, noise, and the constant, low-grade panic of keeping tiny humans alive. He doesn't shy away from the indignities, from the physical toll to the sheer absurdity of trying to navigate a world that suddenly revolves around a creature who can’t even hold up their own head. The writing is sharp and visceral, cutting through the sentimentality to find the funny bone in even the most desperate late-night moments. This is a book for anyone who has ever felt like they are failing at the simplest tasks while simultaneously performing the hardest job in the world. It’s a raucous, comforting reminder that you aren't alone in the struggle.Publication dateJanuary 1, 1618Amazon rating3.9/5LanguageEnglishPublisherSphere
- Tagsnon-fictionDescriptionWhat does it truly mean to embrace the absurdity of modern masculinity without losing your soul in the process? Drew Magary’s *Men with Balls* tackles this question with the kind of raucous, unapologetic energy that only a seasoned cultural satirist can muster, diving headfirst into the sweaty, chaotic world of sports and the men who define their lives by them. This isn’t just a collection of essays; it’s a visceral examination of the testosterone-fueled theater that shapes so much of our collective identity, asking us to laugh even as we cringe at the reflection staring back from the screen. Magary’s voice is a force of nature—blisteringly funny, sharply observant, and unafraid to wade into the muck of fandom, obsession, and the fragile egos that prop up the games we love. He dissects the rituals of sports culture with surgical precision, exposing the raw nerves of loyalty and the often ridiculous lengths men will go to prove their devotion. Whether he’s dissecting the mechanics of a perfect tailgate or the existential dread of a losing season, his prose crackles with an intensity that keeps you turning pages, eager for the next punchline or piercing insight. What makes this book matter is its refusal to pull punches, even when the target hits uncomfortably close to home. Magary holds up a mirror to the absurdities we tolerate in the name of passion, forcing us to confront the fine line between love and lunacy. It’s a wild, thought-provoking ride that leaves you questioning why…Publication dateOctober 27, 2008Amazon rating4.2/5Print length288LanguageEnglishPublisherLittle, Brown and Company
- Tagsnon-fictionbiographymemoirchildrenDescriptionThe air in a house with young children is thick with chaos, a relentless, messy tide that threatens to drown even the most spirited parents. Drew Magary captures this suffocating yet vital atmosphere with a brutal honesty that cuts through the sentimental haze often draped over modern parenting. From the panic of a toddler perched on a third-story playhouse to the sheer absurdity of navigating a princess-crazed daughter’s demands, Magary exposes the raw nerves of domestic life. It is a world where getting drunk while trick-or-treating feels like a survival strategy and watching a child defiantly pee in a hotel pool is just another Tuesday. Amidst the hilarity of head lice and flat head syndrome, there lies a profound exploration of the American parental condition. Magary argues against the rising tide of judgmental parenting manuals, offering instead a heartfelt defense of the flawed, stumbling way we raise our children here. He shows us that stepping back—allowing for little mistakes in the kitchen or enduring the embarrassment of almost-dirty words—can be the ultimate act of love. It is a story of trying to commit selflessness in a selfish world, where the logic is often flawed but the compassion is undeniable. This is not a guide on how to be perfect, but a celebration of the joyful, disastrous surprises that define a real family. Magary writes with the urgency of a man who has been in the trenches, emerging with tales that are as touching as they are terrifying. He reminds us…Publication dateMay 6, 2014Amazon rating4.4/5Print length256LanguageEnglishPublisherPenguin Publishing Group
- Tagsnon-fictionbiographymemoirDescriptionDrew Magary has always written with a visceral, gut-punch intensity, but with The Night the Lights Went Out, he transcends the role of the mere sports curmudgeon to deliver a memoir that is as medically harrowing as it is existentially profound. This is not simply a recounting of a health crisis; it is a raw dissection of identity itself, exploring what remains when the machinery of the mind is violently dismantled and then haphazardly reassembled. Magary forces us to confront the terrifying fragility of our own cognition, turning a personal catastrophe into a universal meditation on survival. The atmosphere here is thick with the sterile dread of the ICU and the disorienting fog of recovery, a world where the familiar becomes alien and the simplest tasks feel like Herculean labors. Magary masterfully captures the surreal, almost hallucinatory quality of his convalescence, painting a portrait of a brain that has betrayed its owner with a cruel, sudden efficiency. The mood is heavy, yet it is leavened by his signature dark humor, which acts not just as a coping mechanism but as a defiant middle finger to the void that threatened to swallow him whole. Ultimately, this is a story about the messy, unglamorous business of learning to be a stranger in your own body. Magary does not offer easy platitudes about healing; instead, he tracks the slow, agonizing process of figuring out who this new, broken version of himself is supposed to be. It is a compelling, unflinching look at the…Publication dateOctober 12, 2021Amazon rating4.6/5Print length288LanguageEnglishPublisherHarmony
Order of Short Stories/Novellas
- Tagsshort-storiesDescriptionWhat happens when the boundaries of a familiar world suddenly dissolve, leaving you stranded in a reality that feels both alien and dangerously intimate? Drew Magary’s *The Rover* invites you into a landscape where the rules of the past no longer apply, forcing you to confront the unsettling quiet that follows the end of everything you once knew. The atmosphere here is thick with a palpable sense of isolation, a heavy fog that clings to the protagonist as they navigate a terrain stripped bare of civilization’s comforting noise. You can almost feel the grit under your fingernails and the chill in the air as Magary masterfully builds a mood that is as claustrophobic as it is expansive, turning the simple act of survival into a haunting meditation on loneliness and endurance. This isn’t just a story about moving through space; it’s about the internal journey that takes place when the external world falls silent. The narrative pulls you along with a quiet, relentless urgency, making you feel the weight of every step and the desperation of a hope that refuses to be extinguished. It is a gripping, visceral experience that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.Publication dateApril 24, 2014Amazon rating3.9/5Print length25LanguageEnglish
Order of Standalone Novels
- Tagspost-apocalypticliterary-fictiondystopiansci-fithrillerDescriptionImagine a world where a simple phone call can buy you immortality. That is the terrifying reality in Drew Magary’s speculative thriller. The cure for aging is discovered, and suddenly, nobody has to die. But the atmosphere shifts from euphoria to claustrophobia. The world becomes crowded. Resources dwindle. The concept of a "natural life" evaporates, replaced by an endless, grinding existence. It feels heavy. It feels inevitable. John Farrell is a lawyer who takes the cure. He thinks he has won the lottery. Instead, he watches society unravel around him. Marriages last centuries. Generations never leave the nest. The government creates a brutal enforcement agency to handle the population crisis. This isn't a fairy tale about living forever; it is a punch to the gut about the value of a finite timeline. The stakes are incredibly high, and the emotional weight is crushing. You will feel the desperation in every page.Publication dateAugust 30, 2011Amazon rating4.2/5Print length400LanguageEnglishPublisherPenguin Books
- Tagsfantasyepic-fantasyDescriptionThis book is a relentless, hallucinatory nightmare that redefines the nature of survival. It grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go, dragging you into a wilderness that defies all logic. It is not just a story about getting lost; it is about the terrifying fragility of our reality when stripped away. The atmosphere is thick with dread from the very first step. The woods feel ancient and malevolent, a living breathing entity that shifts and warps around the protagonist. You can almost smell the damp earth and feel the oppressive weight of the trees closing in. The silence is heavy, broken only by the sounds of things that should not exist. Ben is an everyman thrust into a situation that demands more than he has to give. He faces man-eating giants and bizarre demons with nothing but his wits and sheer desperation. The stakes are absolute, and the creatures he encounters are visceral, horrifying, and utterly unforgettable. Magary constructs a world that is as creative as it is cruel. This is a pulse-pounding journey through the absurd and the terrifying. It is a testament to the enduring human spirit, even when facing the ultimate, unknown dark.Publication dateJuly 4, 2017Amazon rating4.4/5Print length288LanguageEnglishPublisherPenguin Books
- Tagsmysteryromancesci-ficrimeDescriptionThe coordinates are set for a destination that no one can find. Drew Magary’s *Point B* begins with a simple premise that spirals into something far more disorienting. It is a story about the spaces between where we are and where we want to be. The atmosphere is thick with unease. The world feels slightly off-kilter, like a photograph taken just a second too late. Magary builds a mood that is both claustrophobic and vast, trapping the reader in a landscape that refuses to sit still. At its core, this is a journey of obsession. The protagonist is driven by a need to understand the unexplainable, pushing past the boundaries of safety and sanity. The stakes are personal and immediate, grounding the high-concept ideas in raw, human desperation. Magary writes with a sharp, economical style. He cuts through the noise to deliver a narrative that hits hard and lingers. This is a book for anyone who has ever felt lost and wondered if the map was wrong.Publication dateApril 22, 2020Amazon rating4.5/5Print length463LanguageEnglishPublisherAmazon
Frequently Asked Questions about Drew Magary
Drew Magary's books can be read in several ways. His non-fiction titles like Fking Up the Buttons on a Babygrow, Men with Balls, Someone Could Get Hurt, and The Night the Lights Went Out can be read in publication order or individually. His standalone novels, The Postmortal / The End Specialist, The Hike, and Point B, do not require a specific reading order. The Rover is a short story or novella. There are no explicit series that necessitate reading in a particular sequence.
A good starting point for Drew Magary's work is often his novel The Postmortal / The End Specialist, published in 2011. This book explores themes of mortality and societal change in a unique way. Alternatively, his non-fiction title Men with Balls, from 2008, offers a different facet of his writing, focusing on sports and personal experience. Either provides a solid introduction to his distinctive voice and storytelling.
You do not have to read Drew Magary's books in order. While some non-fiction titles and standalone novels are listed by publication date, they are not part of a continuous series that requires sequential reading. Each book can be enjoyed independently. Readers can select any title that catches their interest, whether it's a novel or a non-fiction work, and begin their reading experience without needing prior knowledge of other books.
Drew Magary writes both standalone novels and non-fiction books. His novels, such as The Postmortal / The End Specialist, The Hike, and Point B, are self-contained stories. He also has a collection of non-fiction works including Fking Up the Buttons on a Babygrow, Men with Balls, Someone Could Get Hurt, and The Night the Lights Went Out. The Rover is categorized as a short story or novella. He does not appear to write interconnected series.
Drew Magary has written at least ten books across different forms. This includes four non-fiction books: Fking Up the Buttons on a Babygrow (1618), Men with Balls (2008), Someone Could Get Hurt (2014), and The Night the Lights Went Out (2021). He has also written three standalone novels: The Postmortal / The End Specialist (2011), The Hike (2017), and Point B (2020). Additionally, The Rover (2014) is listed as a short story or novella.
The earliest book listed for Drew Magary is Fking Up the Buttons on a Babygrow, published in 1618. This title falls under his non-fiction work. Following this, his next published book was Men with Balls in 2008. His debut novel appears to be The Postmortal / The End Specialist, which was released in 2011.
Drew Magary's most recent book is The Night the Lights Went Out, published in 2021. This title is part of his non-fiction work. Prior to this, he released the standalone novel Point B in 2020. His other recent works include The Hike (2017) and Someone Could Get Hurt (2014).
Drew Magary writes in multiple genres, primarily focusing on fiction and non-fiction. His novels often explore speculative or philosophical themes, as seen in The Postmortal / The End Specialist and The Hike. His non-fiction works cover a range of subjects, including personal essays, sports commentary, and observational pieces, as exemplified by titles like Men with Balls and Someone Could Get Hurt. The Rover is a short story or novella.
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We verified the reading order for Drew Magary's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: April 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Drew Magary Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/drew-magary