Randall Munroe 2 Books Collection Set - What If? & How To - Non Fiction - Paperback

Titles in This Set
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Paperback
Publisher: John Murray

Overview
This two-book paperback set brings together Randall Munroe's two most beloved science humor titles: What If? and How To. Munroe, creator of the webcomic xkcd and a former NASA roboticist, answers absurd hypothetical questions and dispenses gloriously impractical advice using real physics, math, and engineering. Together, these books turn curiosity into a page-turning adventure, blending rigorous research with laugh-out-loud illustrations for anyone who loves science explained with wit and precision.

About the Books
What If? started as an offshoot of Munroe's xkcd webcomic, where readers submitted bizarre hypothetical questions and Munroe answered them with careful scientific reasoning rather than jokes alone. The result calculates the real consequences of scenarios like pitching a baseball near the speed of light or draining the oceans, all rendered in Munroe's signature stick-figure illustrations. It became a phenomenon for making rigorous math and physics feel like a game rather than homework. How To follows a similar formula but flips the self-help genre on its head. Instead of offering the single best way to accomplish everyday tasks, Munroe presents three approaches for each: the sensible way, the deeply flawed way, and the spectacularly wrong way. Along the way, readers absorb genuine engineering and scientific principles hidden inside the absurdity. Together, the two books showcase Munroe's rare gift for making complex ideas accessible without dumbing them down, appealing equally to lifelong science fans and readers who simply enjoy a clever laugh. Printed as a paperback set, they're compact enough for a backpack or coffee table, and substantial enough to reward repeat reading.

Key Benefits

• Two full-length Randall Munroe titles in one convenient paperback set
• Combines rigorous science with genuinely funny, accessible writing
• Signature simple illustrations make complex physics and engineering easy to follow
• Great for dipping in and out or reading cover to cover
• Perfect gift for science teachers, students, engineers, and curious minds
• Lightweight paperback format ideal for travel, gifting, or shelf display

Book-by-Book Guide
What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions — Munroe tackles reader-submitted hypothetical questions with rigorous scientific calculation and witty stick-figure diagrams.
How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems — Munroe reimagines everyday tasks through the lens of the right way, the wrong way, and the worst possible way to do them.

About the Author
Randall Munroe is the creator of the webcomic xkcd, one of the most popular webcomics of the internet era. Before turning to comics full time in 2006, he worked as a roboticist at NASA's Langley Research Center after studying physics at Christopher Newport University. Munroe has been nominated for the Hugo Award multiple times and has had an asteroid named in his honor. His books, including What If?, How To, and Thing Explainer, combine scientific training with a sharp sense of humor, making him one of the most recognizable voices in popular science writing today.

Why You'll Love This Set
Smart, funny, and endlessly quotable, this paperback duo is the ultimate gift for the science lover in your life. Whether it's a birthday, a stocking stuffer, or a graduation treat, Munroe's blend of rigor and hilarity guarantees hours of engaging reading and dinner-table trivia.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.