“What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions” by Randall Munroe; Dey Street Books (320 pages, $24).
Would humanity survive if the Earth suddenly stopped spinning on its axis? What would happen if the sun suddenly vanished from our sky? Is it possible to propel yourself into the air with a machine gun jetpack? What if everyone in the world all jumped at the same time? If you’ve got some time to kill, and don’t mind watching fictional stick figures die in the pursuit of knowledge, then the answers to these absurd questions and many more like them can be found in the pages of Randall Munroe’s bestselling 2014 book What If?.
Munroe is an American cartoonist, author, and engineer best known as the creator of the webcomic “xkcd”. He has worked full-time on the comic since late 2006, taking on absurd hypothetical questions from internet strangers from all across the globe and then setting out to look up scientific answers to them, and next creating silly stickmen comics illustrating how these absurd situations would most likely unfold (or more often, collapse horribly).
In the pages of What If?, about half of the hypothetical situations presented are originally from Munroe’s webcomic, but they are elaborated upon in much more detail. The remainder of situations are brand new, with all situations of either variety originating from anonymous questions submitted to him through his “xkcd” website.
The book is narrated with a great sense of humor, but you can still learn a few things along the way if you really pay attention! But you can also enjoy the book by turning the logic center of your brain off and just following these hapless stickmen scientists and explorers to their usually grim fates. I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys watching MythBusters or fun science-oriented shows in general. No calculator is required, because Munroe always shows his work!
Munroe was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, and his father has worked as an engineer and marketer. He has two younger siblings, and was raised as a Quaker. He was a fan of comic strips in newspapers from an early age, starting off with Calvin and Hobbes. After graduating from the Chesterfield County Mathematics and Science High School at Clover Hill, a Renaissance Program in Midlothian, Virginia, he graduated from Christopher Newport University in 2006 with a degree in physics.
Millions of people visit Randall Munroe’s iconic webcomic each week. His stick figure drawings about science, technology, language, and love have a large and passionate following. You can check out his webcomic at xkcd.com and submit your own absurd hypothetical questions his way. Who knows, he just might make a comic about your submission next!
Donavon Anderson is a reference library assistsnt at May Memorial Library. He can be reached at 336-229-3588 or danderson@alamancelibraries.org.