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What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions Hardcover – September 13, 2022

by Randall Munroe (Author)

4,602 ratings

Part of: What If? (2 books)

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AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

An NPR Best Book of 2022

"The questions throughout What If? 2 are equal parts brilliant, gross, and wonderfully absurd and the answers are thorough, deeply researched, and great fun. . . . Science isn’t easy, but in Munroe’s capable hands, it surely can be fun." —TIME

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of What If? and How To answers more of the weirdest questions you never thought to ask

The millions of people around the world who read and loved What If? still have questions, and those questions are getting stranger. Thank goodness xkcd creator Randall Munroe is here to help. Planning to ride a fire pole from the Moon back to Earth? The hardest part is sticking the landing. Hoping to cool the atmosphere by opening everyone’s freezer door at the same time? Maybe it’s time for a brief introduction to thermodynamics. Want to know what would happen if you rode a helicopter blade, built a billion-story building, made a lava lamp out of lava, or jumped on a geyser as it erupted? Okay, if you insist.

Before you go on a cosmic road trip, feed the residents of New York City to a T. rex, or fill every church with bananas, be sure to consult this practical guide for impractical ideas. Unfazed by absurdity, Munroe consults the latest research on everything from swing-set physics to airliner catapult–design to answer his readers’ questions, clearly and concisely, with illuminating and occasionally terrifying illustrations. As he consistently demonstrates, you can learn a lot from examining how the world might work in very specific extreme circumstances.

From the Publisher

From the author of WHAT IF? and HOT TO: what if? 2 by Randall Monroe

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for What If? 2

“Delightful. . . Randall Munroe has made a career out of sharing his joy in science and engineering. . . . This book and its predecessor inspire us to believe that, even in a vast and mysterious universe, there’s a lot we can figure out with nothing but a sharp pencil, come basic scientific knowledge and a vivid imagination.” —The Wall Street Journal

"The questions throughout What If? 2 are equal parts brilliant, gross, and wonderfully absurd and the answers are thorough, deeply researched, and great fun. . . . Science isn’t easy, but in Munroe’s capable hands, it surely can be fun." —TIME

"Picking this book up now and then enlivens life by letting you briefly consider the effects of, say, putting an indestructible 20-meter-wide glass tube all the way down to the deepest part of the ocean. Plus, Munroe’s illustrations turn stick figures and flowcharts into the stuff of existential hilarity." —NPR

"Entertaining. . . . combines Munroe’s true research and truly funny prose with his signature stick-figure illustrations." —The Washington Post

"Perfect if you enjoy it when stuffy figures of authority crack a smile. Or if you like it when black holes form. That happens a lot." —Newsweek

"One of my favorite books of the year." —Tim Harford, Financial Times

"It's an absolute delight! It's the coolest way to learn how the world actually works." —Hank Green (on the Dear Hank & John podcast)

“A delight for science geeks with a penchant for oddball thought experiments.” —Kirkus

Praise for Randall Munroe and What If?

“Randall Munroe is a national treasure.” —Phil Plait

“Extreme astrophysics and indecipherable chemistry have rarely been this clearly explained or this consistently hilarious.” —Entertainment Weekly “10 Best Nonfiction Books of the Year”

“Consistently fascinating and entertaining...Munroe leavens the hard science with whimsical touches... An illuminating handbook of methods of reasoning.” —Wall Street Journal

“It’s fun to watch as Munroe tackles each question and examines every possible complication with nerdy and methodical aplomb.... The delightfully demented What If? is the most fun you can have with math and science, short of becoming your own evil genius.” —Boston Globe

About the Author

Randall Munroe is the author of the New York Times bestsellers What If? 2, How To, What If?, and Thing Explainer; the science question-and-answer blog What If?; and the popular web comic xkcd. A former NASA roboticist, he left the agency in 2006 to draw comics on the internet full time. He lives in Massachusetts.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Riverhead Books (September 13, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0525537112
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0525537113
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.8 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.21 x 1.12 x 9.26 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #10,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Science & Scientists Humor
- #6 in Science Essays & Commentary (Books)
- #26 in Trivia (Books)

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4,602 ratings

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Randall Munroe

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Randall Munroe is the creator of the webcomic xkcd and author of xkcd: Volume 0. Randall was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, and grew up outside Richmond, Virginia. After studying physics at Christopher Newport University, he got a job building robots at NASA Langley Research Center. In 2006 he left NASA to draw comics on the internet full time, and has since been nominated for a Hugo Award three times. The International Astronomical Union recently named an asteroid after him: asteroid 4942 Munroe is big enough to cause mass extinction if it ever hits a planet like Earth.

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4,602 global ratings

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Customers find the book entertaining and engaging, with well-researched answers to ridiculous questions that are educational and thought-provoking. Moreover, the book is easy to read, with one customer noting how it explains complex concepts in simple ways for non-physicists. Additionally, customers consider it a fantastic follow-up to the first book and a great gift option. However, the pacing receives mixed reactions from customers.

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68 customers mention "Humor"68 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous and entertaining, with understandable setup and engaging content. One customer particularly enjoys the footnotes, while another appreciates how it combines science with ridiculous scenarios.

"...Overall, "What If? 2" is an entertaining and thought-provoking read that will satisfy the curiosity of anyone who has ever wondered what would..." Read more

"...Randall Munroe has a way with words, and a way with numbers...." Read more

"...Munroe's wit and humor blend wonderfully with his scientific knowledge, applied to the wackiest inquiries from his audience...." Read more

"...They balance everything really well. I fully enjoyed the first book and the second seems to be more of the same in all the best ways...." Read more

51 customers mention "Readability"51 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and brilliant, with one mentioning it's a hoot to read.

"...throughout the book are also a great addition, adding to the overall reading experience...." Read more

"...It's fun. It's sciency. It's a great book." Read more

"Not too much to add to the title - this is a solid follow up to a book I truly loved from an author I consistently enjoy...." Read more

"...The simple and elegant illustration style are perfect!..." Read more

42 customers mention "Interest"42 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with well-researched answers to ridiculous questions that are both educational and thought-provoking.

"...The book covers a wide range of topics, from physics to biology, and delves into the most bizarre questions that you may have never even considered...." Read more

"...and unusual ways while having fun with the process was a very enlightening experience compared to the generally dry and dull approach in most..." Read more

"...-written, with a wonderful balance of humor, imagination, and scientific knowledge and calculation, providing surprisingly well-researched answers..." Read more

"...Based in science the answers take the absurd and try to give you a sense of what if. Well worth it! Great gift!" Read more

9 customers mention "Ease of reading"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with one mentioning that it explains concepts in simple ways for non-physicists.

"...all these questions and many more, in a way that is engaging and easy to understand. One of the most impressive things about "What If?..." Read more

"...While I enjoy the basic format - ask a question that takes normal circumstances to their extreme (or is just wildly absurd) and rather than rolling..." Read more

"...The simple and elegant illustration style are perfect!..." Read more

"...His brand of humor is right up my alley, and I love his art--it's very simplistic, yet engaging. What If?..." Read more

6 customers mention "Gift value"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book makes a great gift, with one mentioning it was a big hit at Christmas.

"...Well worth it! Great gift!" Read more

"...Witty, entertaining, and mind-expanding. Would be a great gift for anybody who likes to think about how the world works!" Read more

"Big hit at Christmas..." Read more

"Amazing gift for nerds..." Read more

9 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it quirky and creative, while others describe it as not serious or exciting.

"...the very concepts and technical I was studying in school in creative and unusual ways while having fun with the process was a very enlightening..." Read more

"Not as good or thought-provoking as his previous books. The Q&A format is unsatisfying, especially the short one line snarky response" Read more

"...It was a ton of fun to read with weird and interesting questions, some of which you may recognize from the site and others which are only in the book..." Read more

"...Unfortunatly, it goes to such extremes as to be almost pointsless...." Read more

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Mister Blue Sky
Get Ready to Explore the Wildest Hypothetical Questions with 'What If? 2'
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2023
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If you're a curious mind looking for answers to the wildest hypothetical questions, then you'll definitely love "What If? 2". Written by the popular science writer, Randall Munroe, this book is the sequel to the best-selling "What If?" and takes the exploration of absurd hypothetical questions to a whole new level.

The book covers a wide range of topics, from physics to biology, and delves into the most bizarre questions that you may have never even considered. For example, what would happen if a baseball was thrown at near light-speed? Or, what if a T-Rex had access to modern-day weapons? The book provides serious scientific answers to all these questions and many more, in a way that is engaging and easy to understand.

One of the most impressive things about "What If? 2" is the level of research and scientific accuracy that has gone into answering these absurd questions. The author has consulted with experts in various fields, and the book is peppered with references to scientific journals and research papers.

But don't worry, this book is not just for science enthusiasts. The author has a witty and humorous writing style that makes the book accessible to everyone. The illustrations and diagrams throughout the book are also a great addition, adding to the overall reading experience.

Overall, "What If? 2" is an entertaining and thought-provoking read that will satisfy the curiosity of anyone who has ever wondered what would happen if the world worked differently. It's a must-read for science enthusiasts, but also for anyone looking for a good laugh and a mind-bending experience. So go ahead, order your copy today and get ready to explore the wildest hypothetical questions!

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6 people found this helpful

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rabh
It's Randall Munroe. 'Nuff said.
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024
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I stumbled across xkcd when I was studying engineering in college. I delayed many homework assignments working through the backlog. I started reading the what if blog from the beginning. Randall Munroe has a way with words, and a way with numbers. Seeing him applying many of the very concepts and technical I was studying in school in creative and unusual ways while having fun with the process was a very enlightening experience compared to the generally dry and dull approach in most textbooks. Come to think of it Munroe textbooks would probably be a game changer.

It's fun. It's sciency. It's a great book.

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3 people found this helpful

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Just Rob
Super fun book
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2025
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I bought my son the first book when he was 7 years old, and he really liked it. When he became 11 years old, this second book came out and he asked me to buy one. He loved it!

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One person found this helpful

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Michael J. Anderson
If you loved 'What If?', You'll enjoy this!
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2023
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Not too much to add to the title - this is a solid follow up to a book I truly loved from an author I consistently enjoy.

I've not gone back to compare but it feels like the short (and worrying) answer sections were given more space this time, and I really felt that was for the good. While I enjoy the basic format - ask a question that takes normal circumstances to their extreme (or is just wildly absurd) and rather than rolling eyes actually take time to answer it.

The reason why for me this was a 4-star whereas the first book was 5-stars is that while the original gave answers as much space as needed, the sequel (?) seems to feel obligated to give each answer a longer format. Towards the middle that turned into a bit of a slog for me.

But overall, if you ever look at yourself typing and ask "if the energy from all of my keypresses were stored up, how far could I hit a golfball on Mercury?" And actually would be interested in a reasonable estimate ... this is totally the book for you!

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4 people found this helpful

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Rob R
Intelligent and soooo funny!
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2024
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I received the original "What If?" book as a gift in 2022, and my son and I loved it so much we bought the sequel.

Munroe's wit and humor blend wonderfully with his scientific knowledge, applied to the wackiest inquiries from his audience. The simple and elegant illustration style are perfect!

We love these books, and will likely be looking for another installment when we finish this one!

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One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer
Perfect balance between silly questions, comedic timing, and actually interesting science stuff
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2022
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I can't say enough good things about this. They balance everything really well. I fully enjoyed the first book and the second seems to be more of the same in all the best ways. It's the type of comedy that I really enjoy. Please read the sample and if it is any bit interesting just get the book. I love the "citation needed" gag attached to mostly well-understood and every-day things. The footnotes are really fun to read.

Kindle edition is alright, the highlighting features is cool, you can see how many other people highlighted the same passage and it all stays organized. If I didn't already have the Kindle I would buy physical, but then again, I plan to move soon-ish so every little bit of space-saving helps.

Just get this book. Why are you still reading this review? Yes you. Stop. Buy the book. It's way more interesting than this. I promise. Just go. Oh, maybe you skipped to the end to see if this paragraph has anything interesting. Nope. Read the first two paragraphs, then buy the book. Ok. Bye.

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13 people found this helpful

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Pikachu123ABC
Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
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Getting as gift for my brother! He loves the first one so this one will be great too!

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One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer
Hilarity ensues
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2024
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All the ridiculous ideas you may have thought of, brought to a scientific conclusion, whether practical or more likely not

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BARRY JOSEPH
ter-informatie
Reviewed in the Netherlands on September 15, 2023
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Order ontvangen maar geen track en trace gezien, wel jammer.

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Blue
Sin sorpresas
Reviewed in Spain on January 11, 2025
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Bien la entrega y bien el estado del producto aunque no venía precintado.
Libro muy curioso e interesante.

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MineDiMatita
Bellissimo libro, anche per ragazzi
Reviewed in Italy on January 4, 2024
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Mio figlio di 10 anni l'ha divorato! Ottimo regalo per ragazzi che amano porsi domande e scoprire cose nuove.

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Elaine Phillips
Funny, witty, informative
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2025
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Learn through silliness - brilliant style, really accessible. Very entertaining and you’ll pick up random interesting scientific info too

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Rodrigo
Even more entertaining than expected
Reviewed in Brazil on September 15, 2022
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Much like the previous title in the series, What If? 2 offers a plethora of insightful knowledge about our physical reality in the form of a bunch of detailed answers to the most absurd questions anyone could think to ask. Recommended to anyone desiring to learn more about the universe while having great fun.

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What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions Hardcover – September 13, 2022

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If you loved the first book, you should absolutely get the second one!

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4.0 out of 5 stars ter-informatie

5.0 out of 5 stars Sin sorpresas

5.0 out of 5 stars Bellissimo libro, anche per ragazzi

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, witty, informative

5.0 out of 5 stars Even more entertaining than expected

ter-informatie

Sin sorpresas

Bellissimo libro, anche per ragazzi

Funny, witty, informative

Even more entertaining than expected