by Juvoni Beckford@juvoni
Before readingWhy I picked it up
Being chronically online I've come across many xkcd memes and as a visual person I also find myself understanding concepts in the world through memes. This book seems like a clever idea at visualized absurd realities as an exercise in playful curiosity.
After readingPosted
A recommended read for the super curious and or Mad Scientists. Seriously though, "What if?" is packed with smart wit and humor, from the creator of the XKCD webcomics that you've probably seen somewhere on the online. The book creates an immense feeling of wonder, blending together science, creativity, and curiosity. I felt like a little kids whose imagination had taken book form. You'll find questions like, "What would happen if you made a periodic table out of cube-shaped bricks, where each brick was made of the corresponding element?" or "What would happen if everyone on Earth stood as close to each other as they could and jumped, everyone landing on the ground at the same instant?" You'll find very clever questions and questions that you may be too afraid to ask or have wondered about. This book is a rollercoaster of awesomeness, taken in small doses.
Three reasons to read it
- Examples of following curiosity through questioning.
- How to describe complex ideas, simply.
- You want a playful take on research.
Notable quotesRandall MunroeMore in Quotes
They say there are no stupid questions. That’s obviously wrong; I think my question about hard and soft things, for example, is pretty stupid. But it turns out that trying to thoroughly answer a stupid question can take you to some pretty interesting places.
But I’ve never seen the Icarus story as a lesson about the limitations of humans. I see it as a lesson about the limitations of wax as an adhesive.
If the Earth stopped and the air didn’t, the result would be a sudden thousand-mile-per-hour wind.
It’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the sudden stop at the end.
Do not try any of this at home. The author of this book is an Internet cartoonist, not a health or safety expert. He likes it when things catch fire or explode, which means he does not have your best interests in mind. The publisher and the author disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects resulting, directly or indirectly, from information contained in this book.
Notes for this book are still being transcribed.
