Randall Munroe is the creator of the popular webcomic xkcd. Awhile ago he started a new section on his site called What If. This book is a compilation of the What If posts from his site. They are funny, and sometimes absurd, scientific answers to strange questions people post to him.

I listened to this as an audiobook. It is narrated by Wil Wheaton and Wil does a great job narrating it. For me it is easier to listen to non-fiction books on audiobook (it just holds my attention better). However, I also own the book in hardcover and being that Munroe is a cartoonist there are a lot of cool pictures in the hardcover book that are funny and help to explain things. So while the audiobook was very well done and engaging, keep in mind you arent getting to see the funny drawings.

This is the type of book that makes a good coffee table book and is fun to read one scenario at a time. When I listened to a whole bunch of scenarios in a row it all started to blur together a bit. It provides answers to questions like How long would you live if your cells stopped dividing? and What would happen if the moon went away? The book reminds a bit of the Mythbusters TV show because Munroe always had to take the scenario to the point of ultimate destruction or explosion (which is hilarious and highly entertaining).

The book is written in a very humorous and snarky tone (which Wheaton reads perfectly in the audiobook). There are sections throughout called Weird and Worrying Questions from the What If Inbox that are also hilarious. These sections feature bizarre and disturbing questions that Munroe provides brief and sarcastic answers to. For example How many cats yowling would it take to bring down a fighter jet?

Overall this is a humorous scientific read that provides scientific answers to bizarre questions. It reminds at times of the Mythbusters TV series in that nearly every scenario is taken to the point of giant explosions or mass destruction. I would definitely recommend to fans of the Mythbusters TV series, fans of xkcd, and fans of snarky science humor.

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I got my copy of this book for free from tor.com, because winning a sweepstakes there is considerably easier than getting struck by lightning. (Seriously. Do the math.) But this one is definitely worth buying.

The book is a collection of serious answers to absurd questions, all answered with SCIENCE! and actually apparently researched rather well. And it's an excellent example of how science can be interesting and exciting (even if the excitement comes along with a city-sized crater). Far too often, in science class after science class, kids are taught that science is dull; we need more stuff like this to teach a different perspective.

It's a heck of a lot of fun to read.

If you're already a fan of Munroe's "What If?" web series, you've probably already read most of what's here, but dang if it isn't fun to read it again. And what a gift! Give this book to every middle-school kid you know. And your parents. And that crazy aunt.

A strong 5 of 5. Fantastic book.

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