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3.75k reviews for:
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
Randall Munroe
4.14 AVERAGE
3.75k reviews for:
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
Randall Munroe
4.14 AVERAGE
2 1/2 stars
Though it had interesting tidbits here and there, the book felt repetitive and unnecessarily violent? Also, I did not like how he’d present certain questions as random & absurd, then go on random & absurd tangents in answering other questions, by choice. Too much irreverence & too many attempts at humor also blurred the scientific basis of the scenarios.
Though it had interesting tidbits here and there, the book felt repetitive and unnecessarily violent? Also, I did not like how he’d present certain questions as random & absurd, then go on random & absurd tangents in answering other questions, by choice. Too much irreverence & too many attempts at humor also blurred the scientific basis of the scenarios.
This was ok. some humorous and intelligent hypotheticals. At other times it droned on and on.
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Fun little book for what it is, honestly some of the more science-y bits went over my head, but the authors lighthearted commentary helped pull through some of the more dense material.
challenging
funny
informative
fast-paced
Mostly amusing. Some scenarios were quite silly, and didn't really ground into reality--which I guess is fine, though I enjoyed the more practical questions. Practical as in more... relatable to real-world scenarios. For example, even though I do not believe in "soul mates," I found the explanation regarding the statistics of actually finding that ONE person in the world much better than I did the explanation of what would happen to a batter if he hit a pitched baseball that was coming at him near the speed of light.
XKCD, in book form. Each short chapter focuses on a different "what if?" scenario, taken to an extreme level. I kept the book on my kindle and had something short and hilarious to read while waiting in lines, etc - definitely worth having around!
True to form, [a:Randall Munroe|3089156|Randall Munroe|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1406058780p2/3089156.jpg] brings a lot of humor to scientific exploration when it comes to addressing absolutely crazy, unrealistic-but-compelling questions from the Average Joe. The simple illustrations add a lot, whether clarifying a concept or playing up his commentary, so even if you don't have Randall's mind for science you can still get a lot out of it.
Honestly, though, the best part of this book for me was that it was something that both the Hubs and I enjoyed, and we'd read it to each other before catching some Z's. The Q&A format made it easy go through one or two, then put it down and pick it up again sometime later. It adds a whole new dimension when you read aloud and try to verbally explain (through laughter) the illustrations to someone who's already taken their glasses off for the night. Great stuff!
Honestly, though, the best part of this book for me was that it was something that both the Hubs and I enjoyed, and we'd read it to each other before catching some Z's. The Q&A format made it easy go through one or two, then put it down and pick it up again sometime later. It adds a whole new dimension when you read aloud and try to verbally explain (through laughter) the illustrations to someone who's already taken their glasses off for the night. Great stuff!
Great toilet book! Full of lovely humour and crazy science.
The only reason it took me over 1 year to read it was because I kept reading the stories at random, and I ended up forgetting which I'd read after a while.
That's why I got a rating system, where I'd rate each story after I read it.
This also lead me to my 4* rating (the average being 3,5 and I rounded up), even though I normally don't ever rate short story collections.
The only reason it took me over 1 year to read it was because I kept reading the stories at random, and I ended up forgetting which I'd read after a while.
That's why I got a rating system, where I'd rate each story after I read it.
This also lead me to my 4* rating (the average being 3,5 and I rounded up), even though I normally don't ever rate short story collections.
dark
funny
informative
fast-paced
funny
informative
fast-paced