English language
Published 2022
A second collection of Fermi problems so ridiculous that Fermi would be disgusted.
Munroe has perfected the serious, scientific take on absurd questions and here he delivers another superb batch of his mashup of humour and physics.
Randall's writing, and cartoons, are always entertaining, and I feel my mind has been expanded.
Randall's writing, and cartoons, are always entertaining, and I feel my mind has been expanded.
A highly entertaining, educational read, with (at times disconcerting) questions brought to Munroe. Would have been nice if he added a few of his own ponderings, but at least I know the answers to a lot of things I'd be too sensible to deem possible. Granted, there was one question in there that younger, less jaded me had on her mind.
Enjoyable edutainment at some of its finest.
A highly entertaining, educational read, with (at times disconcerting) questions brought to Munroe. Would have been nice if he added a few of his own ponderings, but at least I know the answers to a lot of things I'd be too sensible to deem possible. Granted, there was one question in there that younger, less jaded me had on her mind.
Enjoyable edutainment at some of its finest.
Alternating between droll, chaotically hilarious, and zany in a way I haven't seen outside a children's book for a while, this book had me either thinking or cackling (I'm not exaggerating) for the entire time I read it. This is one of my favorite genres of nonfiction (now I'm second guessing that classification...hmm), and about ⅔ of the chapters made me think "huh. I'd like to see a short story about that!" It also delights me to no end that Randall Munroe and Tracy V. Wilson are friends.
I've been a fan of xkcd for coming up on two decades now, of the concept of What-If for about one decade, and of his books since 2014. Munroe's first What If? book was an absolute joy to read and I've reread it several times since its release. Both books could easily be subtitled "destroying the universe in chunks of various size …
Alternating between droll, chaotically hilarious, and zany in a way I haven't seen outside a children's book for a while, this book had me either thinking or cackling (I'm not exaggerating) for the entire time I read it. This is one of my favorite genres of nonfiction (now I'm second guessing that classification...hmm), and about ⅔ of the chapters made me think "huh. I'd like to see a short story about that!" It also delights me to no end that Randall Munroe and Tracy V. Wilson are friends.
I've been a fan of xkcd for coming up on two decades now, of the concept of What-If for about one decade, and of his books since 2014. Munroe's first What If? book was an absolute joy to read and I've reread it several times since its release. Both books could easily be subtitled "destroying the universe in chunks of various size for fun and legit," which is undoubtedly a feature, not a bug.
This book, in the tradition of all good sequels, stays faithful to the premise while exploring new ground. I can't wait for What If? 3.
Excellent humor but also surprisingly educational. For everyone interested in science.
