What If? Randall Munroe 3 Books Collection Set - What If, What If 2 & How To - Non Fiction - Paperback

Titles in This Set
What If?
What If? 2
How To

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

Overview
This three-book paperback collection gathers Randall Munroe's most celebrated works of playful science writing: What If?, What If? 2, and How To. Munroe, creator of the webcomic xkcd and a former NASA roboticist, answers absurd hypothetical questions and offers wildly impractical advice using real physics, careful math, and his signature stick-figure illustrations. Together these three books turn rigorous scientific reasoning into laugh-out-loud entertainment, making complex ideas about energy, motion, and engineering feel approachable. It's a set built for anyone who has ever wondered "what would actually happen if..." and wanted a real answer.

About the Books
What If? started it all, collecting Munroe's answers to bizarre reader-submitted questions about everything from asteroid impacts to boiling oceans, each worked out with real equations and dry humor. What If? 2 continues the format with a fresh batch of scenarios, digging into structural engineering, orbital mechanics, and human biology, while keeping the same rigorous-yet-silly tone that made the original a favorite among science lovers everywhere. How To takes a different angle, offering supposedly practical advice for everyday tasks — like moving house or throwing a party — that quickly spirals into gloriously overengineered, scientifically grounded chaos. Across all three titles, Munroe's gift is making technical subjects feel like a conversation with a smart, funny friend who happens to know a lot of physics. The stick-figure diagrams accompanying nearly every explanation aren't just decoration; they're essential to how Munroe communicates scale, force, and consequence, turning abstract physics into something you can practically see happening. Readers consistently praise the books for striking a rare balance: genuinely rigorous science paired with comedic timing that never talks down to its audience. Whether you're a curious kid, a working engineer, or someone who enjoys a well-reasoned tangent, this trio rewards both quick browsing and cover-to-cover reading, making it an easy recommendation for reluctant readers, students, and science enthusiasts alike, whether read straight through or savored one absurd question at a time.

Key Benefits

• Bundles three fan-favorite Munroe titles in one set
• Real science behind wonderfully absurd questions
• Filled with signature stick-figure illustrations
• Short chapters, easy to dip in and out
• A witty gift for science-curious readers
• Great for fans of xkcd and pop-science reading

Book-by-Book Guide
What If? — Answers outlandish physics questions using real calculations and stick-figure diagrams.
What If? 2 — New reader questions covering engineering, biology, and orbital mechanics.
How To — Reimagines everyday tasks as elaborate, scientifically-grounded projects.

About the Author
Randall Munroe is an American author and cartoonist best known as the creator of xkcd, the long-running webcomic about "romance, sarcasm, math, and language." Before turning to comics and writing full-time, he worked as a roboticist at NASA's Langley Research Center, building robots for aerospace research projects. His books translate a deep, genuine curiosity about how the world works into accessible, funny, and meticulously researched writing, earning him a devoted following among readers who enjoy science explained with both rigor and humor, alongside his instantly recognizable stick-figure art style throughout.

Why You'll Love This Collection
Three books of laugh-out-loud science in one paperback set means less time searching for your next read and more time enjoying it. It's an easy win as a birthday gift, holiday stocking stuffer, or back-to-school pick for the curious mind in your life who has ever wondered "what if" and actually wanted the answer.

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