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How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems
by
The world's most entertaining and useless self-help guide, from the brilliant mind behind the wildly popular webcomic xkcd and the million-selling What If? and Thing Explainer
For any task you might want to do, there's a right way, a wrong way, and a way so monumentally bad that no one would ever try it. How To is a guide to the third kind of approach. It's full of h
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Paperback, 308 pages
Published
September 5th 2019
by John Murray
(first published September 3rd 2019)
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Hai Dinh Tuan
definitely not. Without those XKCD-illustrations, I will miss half of the book...
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Start your review of How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems
3.75 stars
If you have ever been curious about how to dig a hole, how to cross a river or how to jump really high - then look no further!
Then this is the book for you!
If you’re worried that the house will blow away, or that some prankster will attach jet engines and send it blasting off into the distance...
If you have ever been curious about how to dig a hole, how to cross a river or how to jump really high - then look no further!
If you want to beat a high jumper, you have two options:Mu ...more
1. Dedicate your life to athletic training, from an early age, until you become the world's best high jumper.
2. Cheat.
Dec 21, 2019
Mario the lone bookwolf
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
munroe-randall,
0-natural-sciences
Nonfiction books that are based on answering questions in unconventional ways, giving different answers to one question like in John Brockman´s series, extrapolating ideas and general taking the boooooring out of science, are a great way to get everyone fascinated.
This book has some crazy, but well explained and profound ideas for more or less daily problems and gets one interested in the technology and physics of many ignored details of life. Mind games, creativity techniques, free association ...more
This book has some crazy, but well explained and profound ideas for more or less daily problems and gets one interested in the technology and physics of many ignored details of life. Mind games, creativity techniques, free association ...more
Many thanks to Brooke at Penguin Random House for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
So… How To. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it. I painfully choose to give this 3.5 stars. I am honestly as shocked as the rest of you. There were quite a few things I loved and quite a few things I didn’t. I’d like to get the negative out of the way so here we go.
For starters, this book is not What If. I know you’re probably thinking Yeah, no sh*t I (foolishly) expected this to be like What I ...more
Did you ever wonder how to build a lava moat around your house or how to send a package from space? Well, you're in luck! Randall Munroe's How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems explains how to do these and several other weird things you might have wondered about. I'm not saying you're weird if you've pondered these things; I'm saying they're weird questions. Don't blame me: The author himself claims they're absurd. Other absurd questions asked (and answered) in th ...more
As always, when I read a funny book, BUT I'm also listening to a narration by Wil Wheaton, I'm suddenly nearly incapable of figuring out whether I love the book for its content or presentation.
Gaaaah!
Fortunately, I had a great time with both, seamlessly upping my chuckle factor by a few magnitudes as I learn how wrong it would be to make a really, really huge teakettle. *hint* (the rivers of lava might make your homeowner's association a bit upset.)
The most fascinating feature, other than just e ...more
Gaaaah!
Fortunately, I had a great time with both, seamlessly upping my chuckle factor by a few magnitudes as I learn how wrong it would be to make a really, really huge teakettle. *hint* (the rivers of lava might make your homeowner's association a bit upset.)
The most fascinating feature, other than just e ...more
Excellent set of real life problems with unreal solutions, but all of them based on pure science. Each of them are to enjoy and think about.
So much about author Randall Munroe can be explained by a quote from this book:
I really love that we can ask physics ridiculous questions like, “What kind of gas mileage would my house get on the highway?” and physics has to answer us.Most of the rest can be illuminated by his approach to most topics in this book. Tongue firmly planted in cheek and nerd flag raised proudly high. Frankly, I have no idea why it's taken this long for the creator of the brilliant xkcd comic to tell us the winning st ...more
A bit too sciencey for my tastes. I skimmed the math-filled parts and the rest of it just wasn't enough to tickle the funny bone.
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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
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
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
I'll let the ToC speak for the rest. Those marked with an arrow weren't in the audio book. ...more
(3.5/5 stars) This book is so interesting and entertainingly funny lol Randall Munroe is someone you hope to meet at a party and get to laugh at his jokes while at the same time he teaches you things XD
Really odd random questions providing scientific answers. You learn some random scientific facts along the way. They're questions you'd never ask but once you hear it you want to know the answer. Some of the questions are kinda boring lol but overall this book is entertaining and interesting
"How t ...more
Really odd random questions providing scientific answers. You learn some random scientific facts along the way. They're questions you'd never ask but once you hear it you want to know the answer. Some of the questions are kinda boring lol but overall this book is entertaining and interesting
"How t ...more
Feb 07, 2019
Abigail
added it
IM SCREAMING I NEED THIS NOW
INJECT THE SPILLAGE OF YOUR NERD MIND DEEP INSIDE MY CRAVING BONES!!! FILL ME WITH POINTLESS KNOWLEDGE!!!
INJECT THE SPILLAGE OF YOUR NERD MIND DEEP INSIDE MY CRAVING BONES!!! FILL ME WITH POINTLESS KNOWLEDGE!!!
Meh
Really liked the author's first book, this one just was too ridiculous. I ended up skipping big sections of it. ...more
Really liked the author's first book, this one just was too ridiculous. I ended up skipping big sections of it. ...more
I don't know how Randall does it but every single book he writes is as good as every single XKCD he puts out.
Want to know how to have a pool party? It's not as easier as it sounds. First you have to build a pool, and to build a pool, you're gonna need a lot of math, and math is fun!
No, seriously. Math is fun.
This book revolves around the literal how-tos when it comes to doing things. Let's take our pool for example. Do you know the compression strength of the material you're about to build your ...more
Want to know how to have a pool party? It's not as easier as it sounds. First you have to build a pool, and to build a pool, you're gonna need a lot of math, and math is fun!
No, seriously. Math is fun.
This book revolves around the literal how-tos when it comes to doing things. Let's take our pool for example. Do you know the compression strength of the material you're about to build your ...more
Looking back over my year of reading, it really feels like I read more crappy books than good ones. Even the ones I enjoyed, I tended to fill my reviews with the things that were flawed and disappointing. Is it my cynicism? Is it the lurid state of book publishing these days?
Well, whatever it is, this book is a refreshing remedy, and a perfect high-note to end my 2019 reading with. I earnestly don't think I had a single problem with "How To: Absurd Science Advice for Common Real-World Problems". ...more
Well, whatever it is, this book is a refreshing remedy, and a perfect high-note to end my 2019 reading with. I earnestly don't think I had a single problem with "How To: Absurd Science Advice for Common Real-World Problems". ...more
I enjoyed myself reading this book. This is the first book I read written by this author.
Since this is a non fiction book, there’s no plot or main characters to talk about.
How To is informative and easy to read. A lot of How tos in doing things. Even how to send a package. There are some useful informations that I think I can use. For example how to take a selfie with Venus in the background, how to blow out birthday candles with a jet engine and most interesting part is how to dispose of the b ...more
Since this is a non fiction book, there’s no plot or main characters to talk about.
How To is informative and easy to read. A lot of How tos in doing things. Even how to send a package. There are some useful informations that I think I can use. For example how to take a selfie with Venus in the background, how to blow out birthday candles with a jet engine and most interesting part is how to dispose of the b ...more
I like this shit. So impractical!
How come we didn't learn more impractical science in school? You can learn so many scientific ideas by applying them in ridiculous ways to ridiculous degrees. Instead we did shit like filling out charts of Jupiter's mass. Which I do not remember, is not a useful fact, probably will not play any part in my life, and saying that something is a bajillion kilometers in diameter? That doesn't mean shit. Let's talk about how long it would take to drive the circumferen ...more
How come we didn't learn more impractical science in school? You can learn so many scientific ideas by applying them in ridiculous ways to ridiculous degrees. Instead we did shit like filling out charts of Jupiter's mass. Which I do not remember, is not a useful fact, probably will not play any part in my life, and saying that something is a bajillion kilometers in diameter? That doesn't mean shit. Let's talk about how long it would take to drive the circumferen ...more
Quirky, funny, and at times ridiculous. I love Munroe’s sense of humor and his approach to all matters but this was just okay for me.
This is an abridged review, to see the full one with all the pictures please visit https://amanjareads.com/2019/12/24/ho...
Randall Munroe is the engineer/cartoonist behind that science positive comic strip with the stick figures that you may have seen before.
I've been a fan of his for years now. He has an absurdist sense of humor and marvelous creativity, both of which are on full display in his latest book How To.
How to answers many every day and not so every day questions such as how to dig a ...more
Randall Munroe is the engineer/cartoonist behind that science positive comic strip with the stick figures that you may have seen before.
I've been a fan of his for years now. He has an absurdist sense of humor and marvelous creativity, both of which are on full display in his latest book How To.
How to answers many every day and not so every day questions such as how to dig a ...more
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
How to ... Read This Review?
Traditionally one would open the website or perhaps the app and simply read the review I am about to write. But what if you prefer something more unconventional, or maybe you have been staring at screens more than enough lately, but would still like to know what it says. You could ask/hire someone to read it for you, of course. But what if you were to hire an add-plane and read it from there. Nice outdoors. ...more
How to ... Read This Review?
Traditionally one would open the website or perhaps the app and simply read the review I am about to write. But what if you prefer something more unconventional, or maybe you have been staring at screens more than enough lately, but would still like to know what it says. You could ask/hire someone to read it for you, of course. But what if you were to hire an add-plane and read it from there. Nice outdoors. ...more
It is very funny, but there were some questions I wanted usable answers to.
The principal problem with Randall Munroe books, is that they go by way too fast. I like to savor a good book, reading a little bit at a time, then thinking that part over for a day before going on to the next. With "how to", like its predecessor "what if", I gobbled it up in a day or two. Someone with money please fund a grant to get Mary Roach and Randall Munroe to write a series of science textbooks for junior high and high schoolers.
There are chapters on how to take out a drone with a tennis ...more
There are chapters on how to take out a drone with a tennis ...more
Absurdly fun just like Randall Monroe always is.
An unfortunately severe case of ‘I wanted to like it more than I did’. Randall Munroe’s latest book is How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems, following in the vein of his previous work,
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
. And, fairly or unfairly, I keep comparing the two books in my head, and How To just keeps coming up short.
How To works by taking straightforward questions (“How to Jump Really High”, “How to Ski”) and answering th ...more
How To works by taking straightforward questions (“How to Jump Really High”, “How to Ski”) and answering th ...more
If you've ever wondered how to contain an above-ground pool with just cheese, or how to open many thousands of water bottles at the same time with nuclear weapons in order to fill your pool, this is the audiobook for you. And while the audiobook cannot provide the illustrations that the physical book includes, Wil Wheaton's friendly and straightforward narration style paired with occasionally exaggerated theatrical moments more than make up for them. Wheaton's conversational tone creates an exce
...more
Not as absolutely amazing as What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions but still very, very good.
The kind of entertainment that makes me even weirder at parties. ...more
The kind of entertainment that makes me even weirder at parties. ...more
4.5 I did not like this format quite as well as that of What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions, but the humor and fascinating scientific detail were just as amusing to read.
...more
3.5 stars
Another smart and hilarious offering from Randall Munroe! The flip-side follow-up to What If? is every bit as brainy and had people wondering about me as I guffawed in the library's lunch room.
Sure, you could fill your swimming pool with a hose, but you might need to resort to bottled water; and if you need to empty them all quickly, you might consider using a nuclear bomb. This is how it would work . . .
There are also helpful (?) instructions for how to heat your home with lava, which sports ...more
Sure, you could fill your swimming pool with a hose, but you might need to resort to bottled water; and if you need to empty them all quickly, you might consider using a nuclear bomb. This is how it would work . . .
There are also helpful (?) instructions for how to heat your home with lava, which sports ...more
The book in and of itself is hilarious. Randall Munroe explains how to do things in a completely complicated fashion. There's no reason you'd need monarch butterflies to send a package, but Munroe discusses the idea regardless of ridiculousness. It's a great read.
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Randall Munroe, a former NASA roboticist, is the creator of the webcomic xkcd and the author of xkcd: volume 0. The International Astronomical Union recently named an asteroid after him; asteroid 4942 Munroe is big enough to cause a mass extinction if it ever hits a planet like Earth. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
![Randall Munroe 3 Books Collection Set (How To [Hardcover], What If?, Thing Explainer)](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572920896l/48707577._SX98_.jpg "Randall Munroe 3 Books Collection Set (How To [Hardcover], What If?, Thing Explainer)")
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“It turns out that if you accelerate at 1 G for several years, you can reach almost any destination in the universe. After a few years have passed [traveling at that rate], the effects of relativity really start to add up. When 3 years have passed for you ... you'll have traveled nearly 10 light-years - far enough to reach many nearby stars. If you continue accelerating, it would take you less than 20 years of your time to reach a neighboring galaxy. If you keep pressing the accelerator for a little over two decades, you'll find your vehicle traveling billions of light-years per subjective "year", carrying you across a substantial fraction of the observable universe.”
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“If the bottom of your pool is above sea level, connecting it to the ocean won’t work; water would just flow downhill to the sea. But what if you could bring the sea up to you? Well, you’re in luck; it’s happening whether you want it to or not. Thanks to the trapped heat caused by greenhouse gases, the seas have been rising for many decades now. Sea-level-rise is caused by a combination of melting ice and thermal expansion of the water. If you want to fill your pool, you could try accelerating sea-level rise. Sure, it would worsen the immeasurable ecological and human toll of climate change, but on the other hand, you could have a sweet pool party.”
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