What If? 10th Anniversary Edition

Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

Randall Munroe author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:John Murray Press

Published:14th Nov '24

Should be back in stock very soon

What If? 10th Anniversary Edition cover

This anniversary edition offers a humorous look at science's quirkiest questions, showcasing Randall Munroe's unique insights and engaging style in What If? 10th Anniversary Edition.

In What If? 10th Anniversary Edition, Randall Munroe, the mind behind the beloved xkcd comic, tackles some of the most fascinating questions that science has to offer. This special edition celebrates a decade of inquiry and humor, delivering answers to absurd yet thought-provoking questions. From the probability of meeting your soulmate to the logistics of a T-Rex's diet, Munroe's unique blend of scientific rigor and wit makes complex topics accessible and entertaining.

This anniversary edition not only revisits the original questions but also introduces fresh insights and illustrations that enhance the experience. Munroe's approach involves running simulations, analyzing military research, and consulting experts, all while maintaining a light-hearted tone. Readers will find themselves chuckling at the absurdity of questions like, What if everyone on Earth jumped at the same time? as Munroe provides meticulously researched answers that often lead to unexpected conclusions.

What If? 10th Anniversary Edition is more than just a collection of quirky inquiries; it is a celebration of curiosity and the joy of learning. With new annotations and vibrant illustrations, this edition invites readers to explore the boundaries of science and imagination. Whether you're a science aficionado or a casual reader, Munroe's work promises to entertain and enlighten, proving that asking questions is just as important as finding answers.

Smart answers to silly questions: Randall Munroe reveals all * GUARDIAN *
A masterclass and a great deal of fun... Like all the best lessons, you only realise how much you've learnt once you've finished it * THE ECONOMIST *
I love XKCD's What If -- 'Dear Abby for mad scientists' * NEIL GAIMAN *
With this book, you're a kid with a chemistry set all over again. . . required reading for all grown-ups and a fun reminder that science is really, really cool. * REGISTER *
Essential * NATURE *
Expert research and accessible wit... a favourite among both geeks and laymen * TIME *
Brilliant * ROLLING STONE *
Delightfully free-wheeling and whimsical... despite all the hard facts and gigantic numbers, you really don't have to be a rocket scientist to enjoy What If? * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY *
Brilliant, funny and fascinating * GRAEME LE SAUX, DAILY EXPRESS *
The best bathroom book you'll ever buy... Eminently approachable and full of beautiful expositions on the impossible that illuminate the furthest reaches, almost to the limits, of the modern sciences. The physics is real; and so is the emotional content * NEWSWEEK *
It will satisfy the curious and arouse curiosity in anyone who's not - and it's got great jokes * IRISH TIMES *
Totally brilliant * TIM HARFORD *
XKCD isnerd royalty, the alpha dork, there's no geek more widely cited and loved * BEN GOLDACRE *
What If? is brilliant, scientifically rigorous and utterly absurd... It. Is. A. Triumph * BOINGBOING *
Fantastic... What If? has solved my gift dilemmas for a large group of people . . . . Here's a "What If?" question from me: What if everyone on the planet simultaneously bought a copy of this book, stopped what they were doing and read it cover to cover, would modern civilization and our global economy collapse? It's an experiment worth trying * HUFFINGTON POST *
Wonderful and incredibly fun * AMERICAN SCIENTIST *
Thoughtful, scientific, and highly entertaining * PARADE *
If you're the kind of person whose brain whizzes with questions, What If? may calm the noise. Randall Munroe's done all the hard work for you * SHORTLIST *
Dangerously absorbing . . . I could not think of a better book * VARSITY *
The reader is left constantly subject to outbursts of laughter, lin­gering doubts concerning the sanity of the human race, and an ever-growing fascination with the way our world and the universe works . . . Though science geeks will be the first to acknowledge Munroe's greatness, even people suffering from a chronic hatred towards anything concerned with math will find the humour and absurdity of What If? hard to resist * THE STUDENT *

  • Short-listed for Goodreads Choice Awards 2014 (UK)

ISBN: 9781399818964

Dimensions: 234mm x 186mm x 32mm

Weight: 880g

328 pages