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3.76k reviews for:
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
Randall Munroe
4.14 AVERAGE
3.76k reviews for:
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
Randall Munroe
4.14 AVERAGE
Fun postulations. Interesting questions. Wonder where he gets all the time to research so many questions so thoroughly.
As a fan of xkcd, I've been meaning to read this for a while. It usually takes a push to get me to read non-fiction (which I guess you can call this, though the scenarios contained within are usually a stretch), but there was an Amazon sale and hey presto, here I am.
For the most part, this as just as charming as the web comic. Lots of strange questions, even stranger answers backed up by research and, to misquoted The Martian, sciencing the shit out of things. What bumped it down to four stars rather than five was the occasional propensity to go too far. Sometimes it works (just how much power DO we need to shine light on the moon and see it?), but sometimes it just falls flat (looking at you, hair dryer example). The book really does have a perfect ending though. I nearly said, "Aw" out loud on the train.
For the most part, this as just as charming as the web comic. Lots of strange questions, even stranger answers backed up by research and, to misquoted The Martian, sciencing the shit out of things. What bumped it down to four stars rather than five was the occasional propensity to go too far. Sometimes it works (just how much power DO we need to shine light on the moon and see it?), but sometimes it just falls flat (looking at you, hair dryer example). The book really does have a perfect ending though. I nearly said, "Aw" out loud on the train.
New favorite book. Read it in two days despite having finals to study for. Got a lot of weird looks for laughing too much.
I'm a big fan of the XKCD webcomic and appreciate Munroe's slightly-warped (but really smart) sense of humor. This book is a collection of science-based responses to reader questions. For the most part, this was fun and I learned a few things. I like the writer's style, and it was a pleasant change from what I've been reading lately.
The only real negative had nothing to do with Munroe and more to do with the version of the book borrowed. It was an audiobook, and was narrated by Wil Wheaton. I've got no issue with Wheaton (heck, I didn't even hate Wesley Crusher when he was on STTNG!), but he did get annoying from time to time. Particularly annoying were his mocking imitations of women (just sometimes- at other times he was completely appropriate). He really should have skipped the high-pitched whiny reading and just continued in his own voice. Editing on the audiobook was also a bit off- I noticed a few instances of Wheaton making errors and correcting himself before moving on. Typically that's edited out.
All-in-all, this was a great choice to play while I was doing other things around the house. Recommended.
The only real negative had nothing to do with Munroe and more to do with the version of the book borrowed. It was an audiobook, and was narrated by Wil Wheaton. I've got no issue with Wheaton (heck, I didn't even hate Wesley Crusher when he was on STTNG!), but he did get annoying from time to time. Particularly annoying were his mocking imitations of women (just sometimes- at other times he was completely appropriate). He really should have skipped the high-pitched whiny reading and just continued in his own voice. Editing on the audiobook was also a bit off- I noticed a few instances of Wheaton making errors and correcting himself before moving on. Typically that's edited out.
All-in-all, this was a great choice to play while I was doing other things around the house. Recommended.
Audiobook was especially entertaining, read by Will Wheaton.
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Perhaps the greatest pop science book ever made. Maybe even the best book ever
The only reason this didn't get a 5 is because I'm honestly not smart enough to track with a good 30% of the I'm-sure-were-very-funny-and-clever science jokes in this book and, thus, don't think I got the full effect of it's genius and hilarity.
Still, for someone as scientifically and mathematically challenged as myself, many of the concepts were pretty digestible and I found myself reading the entire thing with a smile on my face. I just breezed through the sections I REALLY didn't get and picked it back up when there was a stick figure that helped me understand. You will not regret reading this book, stirring the imagination, and opening your mind to new ideas. I highly recommend. The nerd in me bows to the nerd in you.
Still, for someone as scientifically and mathematically challenged as myself, many of the concepts were pretty digestible and I found myself reading the entire thing with a smile on my face. I just breezed through the sections I REALLY didn't get and picked it back up when there was a stick figure that helped me understand. You will not regret reading this book, stirring the imagination, and opening your mind to new ideas. I highly recommend. The nerd in me bows to the nerd in you.
Entertaining - love Wil Wheaton's narration on the audiobook. I do feel I missed out a little on the print version; saw it in a bookshop the other day and there are tons of drawings, had no idea!
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced