First published 2019
Randall Munroe presents a collection of spectacularly impractical guidance for ordinary activities. The xkcd creator demonstrates how to forecast weather through Facebook photo pixel analysis and determine generational identity by measuring dental radioactivity. His suggestions include capturing selfies with telescopes, crossing rivers by boiling them completely, and generating household electricity by tearing apart spacetime itself. Munroe explores aircraft landing techniques, hole digging methodologies, and comprehensive book disposal options ranging from ocean dissolution to solar incineration via tectonic subduction. Each absurdly overcomplicated approach serves as a vehicle for examining the scientific principles that govern daily life. Through detailed infographics and illustrations, Munroe transforms routine tasks into elaborate thought experiments that illuminate the technology and physics underlying common human activities.
Genres: science, humor, popular-science, non-fiction, technology, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: thought-experiment
308 pages · Hardcover · Riverhead Books