For Ed Spencer, life is a black comedy. Whether at home, out and about, or further afield, absurdity stalks him like a demented wolf.

In this blackly comic collection of thoughts, observations and things that probably shouldn't have happened, expect the humdrum and the downright unusual, from Kafka-esque trips to the doctor, unwanted chivalry and bad breath, to overcoming a curse, and a life on the run from the murderous twitterati.

Ranging from the ridiculous to the painful, these Brautigan-inspired snapshots cover also the etiquette for interrupting a suicide, choosing the right post box, the impact of mushrooms on love, and how things turn out if your mother's a vegetarian in a tribe of cannibals.

Challenged to create a collection for the modern age - dwindling attention spans and all - these varied pieces are perfect to read in doses, on the bus, in a doctor's surgery, or waiting for your Tinder date to show up.

If you like laughing at the darker aspects of life, these are the stories for you.