Among the usual slew of Christmas gift books appearing on the shelves a few gems stand out this year. Francesca Gould'sWhy is Yawning Contagious? (Portrait, £7.99) kicks off by answering those burning questions about the human body that many of us are too embarrassed to ask.

From pubic hair and why it's curly, via body odour, blackheads and beards, to castration and its effect on the vocal chords, the author - a lecturer in anatomy and physiology - shatters any number of longstanding myths along the way.

Very much in a similar vein, Matt Walker's Why Do Moths Drink Elephants' Tears? (Portrait, £7.99) is an entertaining collection of bizarre and frequently incredible facts concerning the animal world. Did you know, for instance, that lions can count and elephants can talk? Or that lizards have three eyes? And why do zebras have stripes?

Changing tack somewhat, Shopping While Drunk, by Amanda Astill, Tom Bromley, Michael Moran, Simon Trewin (John Murray, £12.99) is an amusing celebration of the indulgences of modern life that we secretly love but daren't own up to enjoying.

From biting your toenails to reading on the toilet, eating at supermarkets to eavesdropping in restaurants, the authors are clearly an unusual bunch of folk who have evidently enjoyed putting together this bewildering array of confessions.

Best of all, though, is Will Smith's How To Be Cool (John Murray, £9.99). Award-winning comedian Smith's analysis of the "dark art" of coolness is the indispensable handbook for those wishing to improve their street cred.

From the basics of being cool, to being cool in a variety of situations at home and work, on holiday or in relationships, here you will find years of coolness distilled into a single, easily digestible volume.

Along the way you can take the coolometer' test, while Smith's handy list of do's and don'ts at the office Christmas party seems like essential reading. Enjoy.