r_strack's review against another edition
5.0
I've been a reader and fan of Randall Munroe's 3 time per week webcomic, XKCD.com, for many years. (You are reading that regularly, aren't you?) This book, like xkcd, gets the science right in a very entertaining manner. Randall thoroughly researches (and annotates sources) to ensure that the math and science are accurate. At the same time, he often takes his exploration of the answers to a ridiculous level to match the absurdity of the questions.
Since it really is just a series of unrelated questions with answers taking anywhere from 2 to 5 pages or so, you could read this straight through in a sitting or two, or you can consume a little bit at a time. I kept this book sitting on my nightstand and would read 2 or 3 of the questions and answers most nights before going to sleep. This occasionally had an interesting influence on my dreams that night.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes xkcd, or anyone who likes science and math, explored in a humorous way.
Since it really is just a series of unrelated questions with answers taking anywhere from 2 to 5 pages or so, you could read this straight through in a sitting or two, or you can consume a little bit at a time. I kept this book sitting on my nightstand and would read 2 or 3 of the questions and answers most nights before going to sleep. This occasionally had an interesting influence on my dreams that night.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes xkcd, or anyone who likes science and math, explored in a humorous way.
caitsidhe's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
3.75
entertaining and interesting.
evilpesto's review against another edition
funny
informative
fast-paced
4.5
Super funny and real physics were used well and obserdly
sadiecass's review against another edition
4.0
Fun book made even better by Wil Wheaton reading it. The sarcasm and dry humor were played perfectly by Wil's droll tone. Really had fun listening to this one.
pamiverson's review against another edition
3.0
Serious scientific answers to absurd hypothetical questions.” That says it all – questions like what if all the rain from a storm fell in one drop, pitching a baseball at 90% the speed of light, swimming in a spent nuclear fuel pool. Entertaining in small chunks. Based on a wacky website.