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Book Review of What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
SteveTheDM avatar reviewed on + 204 more book reviews


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.