What If? (book)
| Author | Randall Munroe |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Published | September 2, 2014 |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; First Edition edition |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 320 pages |
| ISBN | 0544272994 |
| Website | whatif |
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions is a non fiction book by Randall Munroe in which he answers hypothetical science questions sent to him by readers of his webcomic xkcd. The book is divided into several dozen chapters each of which are devoted to a unique question and answer. It was released on September 2, 2014 and tt reached the top of the New York Times bestsellers list on September 21.[1] It was a Goodreads Choice Awards Best Nonfiction nominee in 2014[2] and an Amazon Best Book of the Month for September of 2014.[3]
Reception
The book was received positively by critics. The Boston Globe said that, "It’s fun to watch as Munroe tackles each question and examines every possible complication"[4] and the Huffington Post remarked that, "What makes Munroe's work so fantastic is a combination of two elements: his commitment to trying to answer even the weirdest question with solid science, and his undeniable sense of humor."[5] Wired enjoyed the book, but found an error in one of the sections.[6]
References
- ^ "Best Sellers". nytimes.com. New York Times. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ^ "Best Nonfiction of 2014". goodreads.com/. Good Reads. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ^ "What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions". amazon.com. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ^ Gilsdorf, Ethan (September 8, 2014). "'What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions' by Randall Munroe". Boston Globe. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ^ Gleick, Peter (August 31, 2014). "'What If? - A Review of Randall Munroe's New Book". Huffington Post. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ^ ALLAIN, RHETT (December 19, 2014). "Book Review: What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions". Wired. Retrieved 30 May 2015.