What If?: Critical Scientific Solutions to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

Unexpected topic
Really curious questions in the book. Interesting to read. Easy to understand language.

Making Science Entertaining with Explosions and Destruction
A reader comes away from Randall Munroe’s book, which is subtitled “Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions,” with the sense that Munroe likes to blow things up and burn them to the ground, and that may well be the case. Many of his answers are accompanied by the standard disclaimer—do not try this at home—except when says, “If you do do this at home, please send me the video.”
Munroe is a former robotics expert with NASA who “dropped out” to draw web comics. His most famous creation is xkcd, where three times a week he publishes a new comic, many of them presenting a fascinating—or ludicrous—take on math, physics, technology or life. His drawing style is at once simplistic and instantly recognizable. His people are stick figures, but that doesn’t diminish their cleverness. This book is illustrated with similar drawings, often to provide the punch lines to jokes delivered in the text or to demonstrate a point.
Since he’s obviously very clever and resourceful, and seems willing to tackle enormous questions, his readers and fans often ask him questions. Some of these are, quite frankly, disturbing. These he relegates to interludes between batches of chapters with the appropriate heading “Weird (and Worrying) Questions from the What If? Inbox.” Usually he answers these questions with a simple NO! or a scream, or a comic of the author reporting the questioner to the police, the FBI or Homeland Security.
The other questions are of the sort that college kids might come up with late at night in dorm rooms or geeks would get into heated arguments over at ComicCon. No one asks Munroe who would win in a fight between this superhero and that one, but maybe he’s keeping those for the follow-up.
Many questions are about a matter of scale. How many of these objects would you need to do that? What would happen if something this big suddenly showed up or plummeted to the earth? A disturbingly large number of them ask what would happen to a person if something cataclysmic happened, like the sudden disappearance of all of their DNA (his answer unexpectedly segues into the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments for cancer).
Some questions have straightforward, simple answers. “What would happen to the Earth if the Sun suddenly turned off?” Everyone would freeze to death. However, Munroe is rarely content to stop there. He expands on these answers, taking them to a logical (or, some might say, illogical) extreme. He ups the ante, going far beyond what the person submitting the question had in mind—far beyond what is even remotely possible, so the answers become thought experiments. Many of his answers end with the extinguishing of life on earth or the destruction of the planet.
But there’s a method to his madness. He isn’t just speculating. Okay, he does occasionally speculate, but he usually relies on hard science, with a few assumptions. While the book is entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny, it is also educational. There are very few formulas (the book does have an extensive bibliography where there are, no doubt, more than enough equations to satisfy those who demand more rigorous proofs), and Munroe takes some numerical shortcuts, but one is left with the impression that he has given these questions a great deal of thought and conducted considerable research.
This would be a terrific book to give to someone with a burgeoning curiosity about the nature of things, as it demonstrates how entertaining science can be. Many of the answers are astonishing and counterintuitive, until Munroe lays out the reasoning behind them. What would happen to a glass of water if the lower half of the liquid were suddenly replaced by a vacuum. Not at all what a person might anticipate. If humanity were to die off (there he goes again), what would be the last remaining manmade source of light? Again, he digs deep, pursuing some unexpected avenues.
Plus, for people who appreciate Munroe’s unique, twisted sense of humor, the book is drop dead funny. But, as humorist Dave Barry often says, don’t try to duplicate his experiments at home. By his own admission, he is not an expert on these subjects. Because he is willing to consult true experts, he just sounds like one.

“What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions” von Randall Munroe ist ein unglaublich unterhaltsames und zugleich lehrreiches Buch. Munroe, der Schöpfer von xkcd, gelingt es, scheinbar absurde und oft witzige Fragen mit ernsthafter wissenschaftlicher Akribie zu beantworten. Ob es darum geht, was passieren würde, wenn man einen Baseball mit Lichtgeschwindigkeit wirft oder wie hoch man eine Erdmauer stapeln könnte – seine Antworten sind gleichermaßen verblüffend wie humorvoll.
Besonders gefällt mir, dass das Buch komplexe wissenschaftliche Zusammenhänge auf eine leicht verständliche Weise erklärt, ohne dabei je langweilig zu werden. Die Erklärungen sind voll von witzigen Illustrationen und trockenen Kommentaren, die das Lesen zu einem Vergnügen machen. Gleichzeitig lernt man eine Menge über Physik, Mathematik, Biologie und andere Naturwissenschaften – ganz ohne das Gefühl, dass es sich um ein Lehrbuch handelt.
Munroes einzigartiger Humor und seine Fähigkeit, wissenschaftliche Theorien auf lustige und kreative Weise zu präsentieren, machen dieses Buch zu einer perfekten Mischung aus Unterhaltung und Wissen. Egal, ob man ein Wissenschafts-Fan oder einfach nur neugierig auf skurrile Fragestellungen ist – dieses Buch wird definitiv zum Nachdenken anregen und für viele Lacher sorgen.
Insgesamt ist es ein absolutes Muss für jeden, der Spaß an kuriosen Gedankenspielen und cleveren Erklärungen hat. Sehr zu empfehlen!

“What If?” by Randall Munroe is a delightful exploration of the bizarre, absurd, and seemingly impossible questions that have intrigued curious minds for generations. Munroe, a former NASA roboticist and the creator of the webcomic xkcd, takes readers on an intellectual rollercoaster ride through a series of hypothetical scenarios, offering serious scientific answers with a hefty dose of wit and humor. Here’s why “What If?” is a must-read for anyone who enjoys pondering the strange and fantastical:
Clever and Engaging: Munroe’s writing is clever, engaging, and infused with a unique sense of humor. He takes the most outlandish questions, such as “What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90 percent the speed of light?” and breaks them down into scientifically sound, yet often hilarious, explanations.
Scientific Rigor: Despite the absurdity of the questions, Munroe maintains scientific rigor throughout the book. He diligently researches and consults experts to provide well-informed answers, often delving into physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics.
Accessible Language: Munroe has a remarkable ability to convey complex scientific concepts in an accessible and understandable manner. Whether you have a background in science or not, you’ll find the explanations clear and engaging.
Imaginative Scenarios: The scenarios explored in “What If?” are incredibly imaginative and diverse. From calculating the energy required to stop the Earth’s rotation to determining the likelihood of finding a soul mate in a world with only 10,000 people, the book is a treasure trove of thought-provoking inquiries.
Humor and Wit: Munroe’s humor adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the book. His witty remarks and clever illustrations complement the scientific content, making each scenario both informative and amusing.
Curiosity-Stoking: “What If?” has a way of sparking curiosity and encouraging readers to think critically about the world around them. It invites you to ponder absurd questions and contemplate the underlying scientific principles.
Broad Appeal: This book has broad appeal. It’s suitable for science enthusiasts, casual readers, and anyone who enjoys a good laugh. You don’t need to be a scientist to appreciate the humor and intellect within its pages.
Fascinating Real-World Insights: Alongside the fantastical scenarios, Munroe provides insights into real-world phenomena, making readers look at everyday things from a new perspective.
In conclusion, “What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions” is a delightful and intellectually stimulating journey into the realms of the absurd and the scientific. Randall Munroe’s unique blend of humor and scientific expertise makes this book a true gem for curious minds. Whether you read it cover to cover or dip into its pages for a quick chuckle and a dose of knowledge, “What If?” will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the wonders and mysteries of the universe, both real and imagined. It’s a testament to the power of curiosity and the joy of exploring the unknown.