{"title":"Randall Munroe","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"what-if-randall-munroe-non-fiction-paperback","title":"What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Questions by Randall Munroe - Non Fiction - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nCondition: BRAND NEW\u003cbr\u003e\nFormat: Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\nISBN: 9781848549562\u003cbr\u003e\nPublisher: John Murray\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nWhat If? is Randall Munroe's bestselling collection of scrupulously researched answers to the most absurd hypothetical questions imaginable. Drawing on his background in physics and robotics, and the huge following of his webcomic xkcd, Munroe tackles queries about speed bumps, dead Facebook profiles, T. Rex rampages and nuclear-powered swimming pools with genuine scientific rigour. The result is a book that is equal parts textbook, comedy routine and thought experiment, ideal for curious readers, science fans, and anyone who has ever wondered \"what would actually happen if...\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nMillions of readers visit xkcd.com every week, and many of them send Randall Munroe strange, often unanswerable questions. In What If?, he takes those questions seriously and does the hard work of actually answering them, using computer simulations, declassified military research, differential equations, and conversations with genuine experts, including nuclear reactor operators. What starts as an absurd premise quickly becomes a genuine physics lesson delivered with dry, deadpan humour. Munroe's illustrations, in his signature stick-figure style, punctuate the text throughout, turning complex explanations into something instantly readable and often laugh-out-loud funny. Many answers spiral, entertainingly, towards the destruction of a city or the annihilation of humankind, which is very much part of the charm. This is popular science writing at its most playful: rigorous where it needs to be, ridiculous where it can be, and never condescending to its reader. It has become a modern classic of accessible science writing, gifted and shared widely for making advanced concepts feel approachable and fun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReal scientific answers to genuinely absurd hypothetical questions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWritten by the creator of the hugely popular xkcd webcomic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePacked with original stick-figure illustrations and diagrams\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerfect for science lovers, students, and curious minds of all ages\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeal browsing book, great for dipping in and out of\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA brilliant, thoughtful gift for anyone who loves to ask \"why?\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nRandall Munroe is the creator of the webcomic xkcd and a former NASA roboticist. Born in Easton, Pennsylvania, and raised near Richmond, Virginia, he studied physics at Christopher Newport University before joining NASA Langley Research Center to build robots. In 2006 he left to draw comics full time, quickly building a devoted global readership. His books, including What If? and its sequels, have been translated into dozens of languages and have earned him three Hugo Award nominations for his contributions to science communication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You'll Love This Book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nSmart, silly, and surprisingly educational, What If? turns idle curiosity into genuine science. Its short, punchy chapters and witty illustrations make it endlessly re-readable, and it is guaranteed to spark conversation, laughter, and a newfound respect for just how weird the universe really is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlease Note: Your book will arrive with the UK ISBN and UK edition cover as shown, brand new and ready to enjoy.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Randall Munroe","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43921997365485,"sku":"SNG2412","price":4.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/4549\/8093\/files\/what-if-randall-munroe-paperback.jpg?v=1784327124"},{"product_id":"how-to-absurd-scientific-advice-randall-munroe-non-fiction-paperback","title":"How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Munroe - Non Fiction - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetails\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nCondition: BRAND NEW\u003cbr\u003e\nFormat: Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\nISBN: 9781473680340\u003cbr\u003e\nPublisher: John Murray\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nHow To is the gloriously impractical follow-up guide from Randall Munroe, creator of the webcomic xkcd and bestselling author of What If? and Thing Explainer. Rather than offering sensible solutions, Munroe applies rigorous scientific method to the most absurd possible approach for everyday tasks, resulting in a book that's equal parts hilarious, informative, and gloriously nonsensical. It's a celebration of curiosity, over-engineering, and the joy of asking \"what if we did it the hard way?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nFor any task you might want to do, there's a right way, a wrong way, and a way so monumentally wrong that no one would ever try it. How To is a guide to the third kind of approach. Drawing on the same blend of stick-figure illustration, careful research, and deadpan humour that made xkcd a global phenomenon, Munroe tackles questions nobody asked but everybody secretly wants answered: how to cross a river by boiling it, how to play the piano using lasers and fire, how to build a lava moat, and how to dig a hole using physics, chemistry, and questionable judgement. Real experts — including former astronauts, world-record athletes, and engineers — are enlisted to explain why these terrible ideas would technically work, and exactly why you should never attempt them. The result is a laugh-out-loud tour through real science: rocketry, thermodynamics, structural engineering, and more, delivered with Munroe's trademark charm and comic timing. Whether you're a die-hard xkcd fan or simply enjoy learning why things go spectacularly wrong, How To turns everyday problems into brilliantly entertaining science lessons — ideal for readers who loved What If? or Thing Explainer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Benefits\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWritten by Randall Munroe, creator of the globally beloved xkcd webcomic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCombines genuine scientific research with laugh-out-loud absurd advice\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures input from real experts, astronauts, and record-holders\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePacked with Munroe's signature stick-figure illustrations and diagrams\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerfect gift for science lovers, engineers, and comedy fans\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrom the bestselling author of What If? and Thing Explainer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nRandall Munroe is the creator of the webcomic xkcd and author of the bestsellers What If?, Thing Explainer, and How To. Born in Easton, Pennsylvania, and raised outside Richmond, Virginia, he studied physics at Christopher Newport University before working as a robotics engineer at NASA's Langley Research Center. In 2006 he left NASA to draw comics full time, and has since been nominated for a Hugo Award three times, celebrated worldwide for his blend of science, wit, and stick-figure artistry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You'll Love This Book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nIf you love science explained with humour, absurdity, and genuine expertise, How To is unmissable — perfect for xkcd fans, curious minds, and anyone who's ever wondered \"what's the worst way to do this?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlease Note: Cover shown is the UK edition; ISBN and edition correspond exactly to the listing.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Randall Munroe","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43922026103021,"sku":"SNG12634","price":4.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/4549\/8093\/products\/how-to-randall-munroe-paperback-front-cover.jpg?v=1784327132"},{"product_id":"what-if-2-randall-munroe-paperback-popular-science-book","title":"What If? 2 by Randall Munroe - Absurd Hypothetical Questions Answered - Non Fiction - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e New\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781399811149\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e John Murray Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adult \/ General Readership\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat If? 2 is the eagerly awaited follow-up from Randall Munroe, former NASA roboticist and creator of the beloved xkcd webcomic. Packed with real scientific rigour and irresistible humour, this paperback answers the world's most bizarre hypothetical questions with genuine expertise. From soup-filled solar systems to feeding a city to a T. Rex, it's a witty, illuminating read that turns curiosity into pure entertainment for science lovers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Book:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn What If? 2, Randall Munroe tackles another batch of gloriously absurd hypothetical questions submitted by readers worldwide, applying hard science and dry wit to each one. Across 368 pages, Munroe explores scenarios ranging from filling the solar system with soup to altering the fabric of space-time, using physics, biology, chemistry, and engineering to work out exactly what would happen. His trademark stick-figure illustrations accompany the text throughout, breaking down dense concepts into clear visuals that make tricky science instantly graspable. The book's charm lies in its ability to make readers laugh out loud while quietly teaching them something profound about the universe. It's a natural companion to the original bestselling What If?, expanding on that format with fresh questions and the same irreverent curiosity that made Munroe's xkcd comic a global phenomenon. Praised by outlets from Time Magazine to WIRED, What If? 2 has become a favourite for science enthusiasts, casual readers, and anyone who has ever wondered \"but what would actually happen if...?\" Whether read cover to cover or dipped into at random, it rewards readers with equal parts education and entertainment, proving that great science communication doesn't have to be dry — it can be laugh-out-loud funny while remaining accurate. This is a book for curious minds of all backgrounds, no physics degree required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Benefits:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWritten by Randall Munroe, the internationally bestselling creator of xkcd and former NASA roboticist.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCombines rigorous, well-researched science with genuinely laugh-out-loud humour.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePacked with Munroe's signature stick-figure illustrations that simplify complex ideas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerfect gift for science fans, students, teachers, and curious minds of all ages.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA worthy, expansive follow-up to the smash-hit original What If?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRandall Munroe is the creator of the wildly popular webcomic xkcd and a former NASA roboticist. He studied physics at Christopher Newport University before joining NASA, where he built robots for space exploration, later leaving to draw comics full-time. His work blends technical precision with sharp humour, earning him three Hugo Award nominations and a devoted global readership. He is also the author of the international bestsellers What If?, Thing Explainer, and How To.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You'll Love This Book:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf you love learning something new while laughing out loud, What If? 2 delivers in spades. Munroe's blend of rock-solid science and razor-sharp wit makes this the perfect pick for curious readers, gift-givers, and anyone who has ever asked a ridiculous question.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlease Note: Book cover, edition, and ISBN may vary slightly from images shown; this listing is for the current UK paperback edition.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Randall Munroe","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56736366199166,"sku":"SNG10295","price":3.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/4549\/8093\/files\/what-if-2-randall-munroe-paperback-cover.jpg?v=1784423455"},{"product_id":"randall-munroe-3-books-collection-set-what-if-how-to-paperback","title":"Randall Munroe 3 Books Collection Set - What If?, How To \u0026 What If? 2 - Non Fiction - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitles in This Set:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nWhat If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions\u003cbr\u003e\nHow To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems\u003cbr\u003e\nWhat If?2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e BRAND NEW\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9789124252908\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e John Murray\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAge Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e 13+ (Adult \/ Young Adult)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThis Randall Munroe 3 Books Collection Set brings together What If?, How To, and What If?2 in one paperback bundle. From the creator of the hugely popular webcomic xkcd, these bestselling titles turn genuine science into laugh-out-loud reading, tackling everything from speed bumps to lava lamps made of lava. Ideal for science lovers, engineers and teachers, this set is a guaranteed conversation starter and a brilliant gift for the endlessly curious reader in your life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Books:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nWhat If? kicked off Munroe's non-fiction career, answering bizarre hypothetical questions sent in by his millions of xkcd readers - from surviving a speed bump at speed, to when the sun set on the British Empire. Munroe treats every question with total scientific seriousness, running simulations and consulting real experts to arrive at answers as rigorous as they are ridiculous. How To takes the opposite approach: instead of answering sensible questions properly, it offers the most absurdly complicated way to do simple tasks, from predicting the weather using your photos to disposing of the book itself by launching it into the sun. What If?2 continues the tradition with even stranger hypotheticals, tackling moving mountains and feeding entire cities to a T. Rex, delivered with the same blend of hard science and dry humour that made the original a bestseller. Across all three titles, Munroe's simple stick-figure illustrations do as much heavy lifting as his prose, distilling complicated physics, biology and engineering into images anyone can follow. The result is a trio of books that reward both cover-to-cover reading and casual dipping-in, equally at home on a coffee table, classroom shelf, or bedside table.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Benefits:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree bestselling Randall Munroe titles in one convenient paperback set.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReal science, real research, genuinely funny - appeals to teens and adults alike.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerfect gift for engineers, teachers, students, and curious minds of any age.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMunroe's signature stick-figure illustrations make complex ideas instantly memorable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreat for dipping in and out of - ideal coffee-table or bedside reading.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrom the creator of the globally popular xkcd webcomic, read by millions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nRandall Munroe grew up outside Richmond, Virginia, and studied physics at Christopher Newport University before landing a job building robots at NASA's Langley Research Center. In 2006 he left NASA to draw comics full time, launching xkcd, the webcomic that has since made him one of the most widely read science communicators online. He has been nominated for the Hugo Award three times, and the International Astronomical Union has named an asteroid in his honour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You'll Love This Set:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThree witty, whip-smart bestsellers in one paperback bundle - perfect for curious readers who want real science delivered with genuine laughs and unforgettable illustrations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlease Note: The individual books in this set will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover shown.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Randall Munroe","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56793820397950,"sku":"PLD24376","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/4549\/8093\/files\/randall-munroe-3-books-collection-set-what-if-how-to-paperback-1.webp?v=1784427665"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.letsbuybooks.com\/collections\/randall-munroe.oembed","provider":"Lets Buy Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}