How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems in Science and Inquiry

Dec 27, 2020 David Rubenstein rated it really liked it

Shelves: science, physics, humor, mathematics

Randall Munroe is the author of the web site xkcd.com, The web site is a collection of science-oriented absurdist cartoons. If you have never had the opportunity to visit this web site--do so immediately! It's a lot of fun!.

This book follows closely on the web site's approach, and that of his previous book What If?: Randall Munroe Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions Summary & Takeaways. This is obviously a "How To ..." sort of book. Some of the questions it asks, like "Ho ...more

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Jun 27, 2020 Jim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science, 1audio, 2non-fiction, humor, 3reference

Munroe writes the xkcd comic, so this is humorous, but there are a lot examples of the proper use of physics. Besides, who doesn't want to explore the myriad ways to dig a hole or create a lava moat around your house? I thought I'd have to read another book in between, but between intriguing investigations & Wil Wheaton narrating, it had no trouble keeping my attention & it kept me chuckling the whole time.

I'll let the ToC speak for the rest. Those marked with an arrow weren't in the audio book. ...more

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Mar 17, 2020 JZ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: humor, non-fiction, mbnf, aubk, home, read-2020

I listened to this. It was fun, funny, and a little bit to imagine without the illustrations. I'll be checking out the book as soon as the libraries open again.
WTF has happened to this country? Have people totally swallowed the panic? smh ...more

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Oct 12, 2019 Jennifer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Clever and thought-provoking.

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Aug 29, 2020 John McPhee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Memorable resource.

A fun book to have on a shelf and either randomly dive into or be able to remember which topics were answered. It is valuable resource for learning to think in a structured quantitative thoughtful way.

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