First published 2022
Randall Munroe tackles the strangest questions his readers can dream up. People want to know what happens when you ride a fire pole from the moon to Earth. They wonder if opening every freezer door simultaneously could cool the atmosphere. They ask about riding helicopter blades, constructing billion-story buildings, creating lava lamps from actual lava, and jumping on erupting geysers. Munroe approaches each absurd scenario with rigorous scientific analysis. He explains why lunar fire pole landings prove difficult and introduces thermodynamics to freezer enthusiasts. The xkcd creator examines swing-set physics and airplane-catapult engineering to provide clear, accurate answers. His investigations cover feeding New York City's population to a T. rex, filling churches with bananas, and planning cosmic road trips. Munroe demonstrates that extreme hypothetical situations reveal fundamental truths about how the world works. His stick-figure illustrations accompany each explanation, making complex science accessible to curious readers of all ages.
Genres: science, humor, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: educational, informative
354 pages · Hardcover · Riverhead Books