What If?

Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

By: Randall Munroe

Narrated by: Wil Wheaton

Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

From the creator of the wildly popular webcomic xkcd comes this hilarious and informative book of answers to important questions you probably never thought to ask.

Millions of people visit xkcd.com each week to read Randall Munroe's iconic webcomic. His stick-figure drawings about science, technology, language, and love have a large and passionate following. Fans of xkcd ask Munroe a lot of strange questions. What if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90 percent of the speed of light? How fast can you hit a speed bump while driving and live? If there were a robot apocalypse, how long would humanity last?

In pursuit of answers, Munroe runs computer simulations, pores over stacks of declassified military research memos, solves differential equations, and consults with nuclear reactor operators. His responses are masterpieces of clarity and hilarity, complemented by signature xkcd comics. They often predict the complete annihilation of humankind, or at least a really big explosion.

The book features new and never-before-answered questions, along with updated and expanded versions of the most popular answers from the xkcd website. What If? will be required listening for xkcd fans and anyone who loves to ponder the hypothetical.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2014 Randall Munroe (P)2014 Blackstone Audiobook

A humorous lesson in how to think—Brilliantly read

What is it—science? Fantasy? Comedy? YES! YES! And YES!

What's fun about this book is how really crazy-sounding Randall Munroe's answers are—but what's great about it is how serious is the science. In a way, the entire book is a lesson in how to think scientifically without losing your sense of humor. Just the kind of thing that would have Richard Feynman falling out of his chair, laughing.

To be honest, this book is so completely zany you might want to take it in smaller bites, like I did. That said, bring it on. It's great entertainment for anyone with a wry sense of humor. Also ideal for a high school student who just needs a tiny nudge in a scientific direction, or—for that matter, any high school student.

Plus, Wil Wheaton is at the top of his form. His narration is absolutly perfect. He's energetic, lucid, and truly brilliant. And this book is the ideal showcase for his considerable talent. For fans of Wil, he's also fabulous narrating "Ready Player One," by Ernest Cline, and this narration is every bit as excellent.

Great read(or listen)

A person will learn so much listening to this. The narrating is great and makes the book that much better

Mad science

The hilariously intelligent creator of the xkcd web comic turns his brain to creative questions which usually end in world destruction. Read by the equally funny Wil Wheaton.

At its best, the book answers creative questions about combining unlikely or impossible creative scenarios. At other times, the questions are just matters of superlatives which can get stale. In all cases though, Munroe's answers and Wheaton's readings are entertaining, informative, and satisfying.

Just awesome!

I bought this book as a 2 for 1 thinking that i wouldnt really care if it was bad because I had only paid half price for it. I'm so glad I took a chance bc it was amazing! This book was not what I expected because it was so funny! Some of the questions were ridiculous but the author still went through the science and the math! The questions show what types of weirdos and nerds there really are out in the world! I can admit I didn't understand everything but the ideas were so outrangeous I loved it! Will Wheaton has a great delivery too! This is a great find! Buy it!

Entertaining book

I found the book to be both enormously entertaining and informative. The narration was also very well done.

Perfect narrator

The narrator of this book is the perfect fit. His voice and deliverence of the lines match how it sounded in my head. Just the right hint of sass among the science.

Laugh Out Loud Funny

I can't even imagine another narrator for this book. Munroe is a hilarious writer, and Wheaton seemed to have a great time reading it. The most awkward was when he had to read out urls...

Wishing it was longer. Wil Wheaton excellent

What made the experience of listening to What If? the most enjoyable?

Learning what interesting facts can come from simple/foolish questions.

Have you listened to any of Wil Wheaton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This material was tailor-made for Wil's dry wit and sense of humor. It brought out all the charm but all the detail.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. Had to go out of my way NOT to do so.

Any additional comments?

Overall a four only because of length.

good science <br />not audio book material

I am a nerd so I loved the science, and the concepts, but I feel like it is not really meant for audio book.

A true Phenom

Wil Wheaton is the best narrator for a book, such as this!!! I nearly laughed so hard I drove off the road... Sorry, Randall Munroe does not give more credit to the Nuclear Navy for some of these absurd questions...