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What If?: Randall Munroe | Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions | Summary & Takeaways
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
Presented by Brief Books (Includes Summary & Takeaways)
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This book is a supplement to What If? and intended to enhance the experience of reading the original book. We recommend purchasing the full version of What If? on Amazon in addition to this book.
Introduction What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions presents a wide variety of questions covering a range of dubious potentialities and the results which would ensue should they become reality. The questions are collected from author Randall Munroe’s website, where they are sent in by readers of his blog. Some of the questions are conceptual, for example how much force would be required for Yoda to lift an X-fighter, others are in a more serious vein. All of the answers however are based on research and the application of scientific principles by the author, himself trained in physics and a former roboticist for NASA.
Benefits Spend less time reading and more time enjoying your favorite books. Discover important details you may have missed the first time. Review key concepts in an easy-to-understand and efficient manner. Use as a reference or "cheat sheet" to quickly access important information. Pick up where you left off with the original book. Focus only on critical information and eliminate unnecessary details.
Buy Now
Buy Now: Only $2.99 (Save $3.00 or 50%, Regular Price: $5.99)
Money Back Guarantee: If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, simply return it to Amazon within 7 days of purchase for a full refund. Go to Your Account -> Manage Your Content and Devices -> Find the Book -> Return for Full Refund.
Read Now: Your book will be delivered to your Kindle device or free Kindle software automatically.
Presented by Brief Books (Includes Summary & Takeaways)
Buy Now: Only $2.99 (Save $3.00 or 50%, Regular Price: $5.99)
Read This Book: Buy now and your book will be delivered to your Kindle device automatically.
This book is a supplement to What If? and intended to enhance the experience of reading the original book. We recommend purchasing the full version of What If? on Amazon in addition to this book.
Introduction What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions presents a wide variety of questions covering a range of dubious potentialities and the results which would ensue should they become reality. The questions are collected from author Randall Munroe’s website, where they are sent in by readers of his blog. Some of the questions are conceptual, for example how much force would be required for Yoda to lift an X-fighter, others are in a more serious vein. All of the answers however are based on research and the application of scientific principles by the author, himself trained in physics and a former roboticist for NASA.
Benefits Spend less time reading and more time enjoying your favorite books. Discover important details you may have missed the first time. Review key concepts in an easy-to-understand and efficient manner. Use as a reference or "cheat sheet" to quickly access important information. Pick up where you left off with the original book. Focus only on critical information and eliminate unnecessary details.
Buy Now
Buy Now: Only $2.99 (Save $3.00 or 50%, Regular Price: $5.99)
Money Back Guarantee: If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, simply return it to Amazon within 7 days of purchase for a full refund. Go to Your Account -> Manage Your Content and Devices -> Find the Book -> Return for Full Refund.
Read Now: Your book will be delivered to your Kindle device or free Kindle software automatically.
- GenresSciencePopular Science
19 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 16, 2022
The title “What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions” is a perfect description to the hilarious amalgamation of entries by Randall Munroe. Within the 320 pages are tons of short chapters full of amusing stick figures and scientific explanations.
This book is nonfiction and has an unusual format where the author answers one question per chapter in addition to a few chapters with strange questions that he has not answered. The questions he answers are not typical science questions though. Some of the best include “What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90% the speed of light?”, “If every person on Earth aimed a laser pointer at the Moon at the same time, would it change color?”, and “Is it possible to build a jetpack using downward firing machine guns?”
Not one passage fails to live up to the interesting prompt at the beginning of the chapter Munroe takes unexpected turns explaining the answers to questions the reader had not thought to ask yet. The way that the simple question and answer format is put together keeps the book organized while the chapters of questions that Munroe thought it better to ignore keep the chapters from becoming repetitive. Overall, this is probably my favorite nonfiction book I have ever read because of the simple yet interesting idea, humorous writing style and casual format. I have enjoyed reading it so much that I plan on taking a look at Munroe’s other works, especially the second What If book.
This book is nonfiction and has an unusual format where the author answers one question per chapter in addition to a few chapters with strange questions that he has not answered. The questions he answers are not typical science questions though. Some of the best include “What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90% the speed of light?”, “If every person on Earth aimed a laser pointer at the Moon at the same time, would it change color?”, and “Is it possible to build a jetpack using downward firing machine guns?”
Not one passage fails to live up to the interesting prompt at the beginning of the chapter Munroe takes unexpected turns explaining the answers to questions the reader had not thought to ask yet. The way that the simple question and answer format is put together keeps the book organized while the chapters of questions that Munroe thought it better to ignore keep the chapters from becoming repetitive. Overall, this is probably my favorite nonfiction book I have ever read because of the simple yet interesting idea, humorous writing style and casual format. I have enjoyed reading it so much that I plan on taking a look at Munroe’s other works, especially the second What If book.
December 24, 2017
This is a fantastic read. The author is hilarious and clearly explains many complex scientific ideas in a way that anyone will understand and humor that is gripping. I am so glad to have found this book.
April 25, 2022
ich habe zwar das richtige Buch gelesen, allerdings nur überflogen und ich will meine Seiten Statistik nicht zerstören. Das Buch war nicht meins, es sind unnötige Infos, die einfach nur Gehirnkapazität beanspruchen, es ist zwar mehr oder weniger lustig aber wie gesagt nicht meins
November 21, 2019
its good! nuf said
February 4, 2020
Somewhat amusing, but not for everyone.
April 13, 2020
Exceptional book! Very clever concept. I loved it!
November 27, 2020
Para pasar el rato, alternar con otros libros
Entretenido y fácil de leer
Entretenido y fácil de leer
May 27, 2021
Entertaining and educational. The author is knowledgeable and has a good sense of humor with imagination.
May 13, 2022
entertaining and instructive in the kinds of scentific answers given, not the greatest selection of absurd questions.
October 18, 2025
Brilliant and funny.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews