Rate: 3.5/5
Medium: Audiobook
Overall (No Spoilers): A week or so ago, when discussing books at work (a frequent topic), a coworker suggested that I read What If?, as with my science background I would likely enjoy Munroe’s thorough, detail filled, yet funny answers to random scientific queries. Perhaps it would be appropriate to first detail a bit of background regarding the author to understand the context of What If?. Munroe was a NASA engineer prior to starting xkcd, where he creates stick figure comics. Other than comics, xkcd also features a What If? section where readers can post random hypothetical questions to Munroe. For example, currently on the What If? website you’ll find this question from Madeline Cooper,
“I used to work on a fisheries crew where we would use an electro-fisher backpack to momentarily stun small fish (30 – 100 mm length) so we could scoop them up with nets to identify and measure them. The larger fish tended to be stunned for slightly longer because of their larger surface area but I don’t imagine this relationship would be maintained for very large animals. Could you electrofish for a blue whale? At what voltage would you have have to set the e-fisher?”
I won’t spoil the answer for you, so click here if you would like to find out Munroe’s answer to the aforementioned question. What If? (the book) is a compilation of questions and answers that Munroe has provided over the years on his website, similar format to the example shown. Additionally, he breaks up his answers by including some submitted questions that are classified in the ‘weird and worrying’ category. While these questionable inquires are fodder for pondering who and why they came up with said questions, Munroe wisely elects to not answer. The result is a dense, yet entertaining read with fascinating scientific answers, intermingled with the right amount of humor. This is a book that would likely be more appropriately read in the physical form as some of the answers quickly would go over my head, resulting in rewinding the audiobook many, many times. Moreover, supporting the physical book is the assumption that most, if not all of the questions were accompanied with a comic, which is unfortunately lost in the audiobook format. Overall, What If? was an amusing read, both from the interwoven humor to the clever approaches when answering hypothetical problems, and will be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone with an analytical mind.
Great review!! Funny to see your review, I just saw this in a museum shop earlier today and it piqued my interest, was wondering about it! Definitely sounds like one to read and not listen to though.
LikeLiked by 2 people
How interesting you’d just say this book in a museum the day I posted! Yes I agree. Worth reading and not listening to if you have the chance!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a “what would a five year old scientist study” type scenario. The book sounds like a fascinating and fun read for us science nerds 🤓
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes it is Emily! You’d love it!
LikeLike
I remember reading this book a couple years ago and thinking it was amusing. 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Amusing is the perfect description Ashley!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Doesn’t sound like something for me. So I thank you for the review. Nothing against the book. But after reading Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, I realize some books and I are just not meant for each other.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Guy! Always efficient to recognize a book isn’t for you before starting it! 🙂 With so many great books out there I’m sure you’ll find the perfect one to take this book’s spot on your TBR list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And…bookmarked website for writing purposes. I’ve got some bizarre questions that are absolutely essential for world-building 😝
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha! Such a good idea! I wonder how many questions he gets with world building in mind!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have also heard good things about the follow up Thing Explainer = in which Randall Monroe describes engineering and science using only the thousand most common words in English.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Philip! That book sounds so interesting. Similar concept to A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Have you read that one?
LikeLike
I have, a few years ago now. I enjoyed it – I should put it on my list to re-read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have also heard good things about the follow up Thing Explainer = in which Randall Monroe describes engineering and science using only the thousand (ie. ten hundred) most common words in English.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Best review
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome
LikeLiked by 2 people
A nice review, and this looks like one for me.
[Though I have to add that the idea of harming blue whales fills me with revulsion!]
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh I think you’ll enjoy it too! Agreed. Such a strange question!
LikeLike