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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
4 stars of fascinating science
There are some truly ridiculous what if questions in here. My favourites tend to be the Weird and Worrying ones as some were just great. The best being about temperature and coffee that I used to give a friend nightmares. Also whatever you do , dont build a periodic table out of the actual elements, so many explosions.
Really though this is just a great book with little cartoon drawings thrown in to describe scientific things in a way that it is readable and fun. I will absolutely read book 2.
There are some truly ridiculous what if questions in here. My favourites tend to be the Weird and Worrying ones as some were just great. The best being about temperature and coffee that I used to give a friend nightmares. Also whatever you do , dont build a periodic table out of the actual elements, so many explosions.
Really though this is just a great book with little cartoon drawings thrown in to describe scientific things in a way that it is readable and fun. I will absolutely read book 2.
When you have long flights and down time in airports, it's good to have audiobooks that will distract you from noisy travelers, snoring sleepers, and screaming children. So thank you Wil Wheaton for reading this book and saving me from insanity while traveling internationally.
"What If?" is the theme of this book in which Randall Munroe answers questions submitted to his blog about scientific phenomenon and hypothetical situations... The best part of the book is taking questions, like what would happen if we all jumped at the same time, and explaining all facets of the effects, something that needs to happen more in our society. My favorite parts of the book though, are when Munroe rejects answering questions with a sense of sarcasm that made me be the idiot who laughed out loud in the airport while listening...example: "How fast would a human dehydrate and die from crying?" answer-- "is everything ok?"
Yes, everything is okay, as soon as you read, better yet--listen! To this book.
"What If?" is the theme of this book in which Randall Munroe answers questions submitted to his blog about scientific phenomenon and hypothetical situations... The best part of the book is taking questions, like what would happen if we all jumped at the same time, and explaining all facets of the effects, something that needs to happen more in our society. My favorite parts of the book though, are when Munroe rejects answering questions with a sense of sarcasm that made me be the idiot who laughed out loud in the airport while listening...example: "How fast would a human dehydrate and die from crying?" answer-- "is everything ok?"
Yes, everything is okay, as soon as you read, better yet--listen! To this book.
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
A bit ridiculous. This science has very little basis in real life.
funny
informative
Nett. Gedankenexperimente werden kreativ aufbereitet und anschaulich gemacht.
Schade, dass die "seltsamen und beunruhigenden Fragen" nicht beantwortet werden. Die meisten sind nicht seltsamer oder beunruhigender als der Rest.
Schade, dass die "seltsamen und beunruhigenden Fragen" nicht beantwortet werden. Die meisten sind nicht seltsamer oder beunruhigender als der Rest.
funny
informative
lighthearted
I didn't expect the combination of advanced physics and laugh-out-loud humor, but I got it with this book. The xkcd author, Munroe, does an excellent job of blending humor and information, making this an enjoyable read. If this book doesn't encourage you to consider more of the impossible, then at least it will provide you with a good bit of trivia to share at your next social gathering.
funny
informative
fast-paced
“I like it when things catch fire and explode, which means I do not have your best interests in mind.”
What a brilliant book! This is by far the best popular science books I've ever read. It has everything one could want, science on a level that most high-schoolers can understand, interesting questions with even more interesting answers and the best dry humor one can expect. The book is written in a way that it doesn't even feel like there's lot of science in it. It's basically a collection of the most impossibly creative ways to destroy the world (and beyond). Movie makers and fantasy writers really need to take inspiration from this. The questions are so diverse and the amount of research he has put into it is just amazing. I loved each and every part of it. Sign me up for every single book he writes and I'm really excited for What If? Part 2.
“But I’ve never seen the Icarus story as a lesson about the limitations of humans. I see it as a lesson about the limitations of wax as an adhesive.”
What a brilliant book! This is by far the best popular science books I've ever read. It has everything one could want, science on a level that most high-schoolers can understand, interesting questions with even more interesting answers and the best dry humor one can expect. The book is written in a way that it doesn't even feel like there's lot of science in it. It's basically a collection of the most impossibly creative ways to destroy the world (and beyond). Movie makers and fantasy writers really need to take inspiration from this. The questions are so diverse and the amount of research he has put into it is just amazing. I loved each and every part of it. Sign me up for every single book he writes and I'm really excited for What If? Part 2.
“But I’ve never seen the Icarus story as a lesson about the limitations of humans. I see it as a lesson about the limitations of wax as an adhesive.”
Best wel grappige vragen die worden beantwoord, beetje jammer dat de Nederlandse vertaling echt aan heel veel kanten rammelt.
Fun both hard back and audio. Got to credit the intellect and humor of the scientifically valid but implausible suggestions bandied about. i was entertained. Wil Wheaton on audio was awesome. The author's comics eye pleasing. Great gift book given to me by a friend! ❤