What If? 2 by Randall Munroe
Reviewed by John H.
For fans of the original What If? by author and illustrator Randall Munroe, perhaps better known as webcomic artist xkcd, What If? 2 is more of everything you love. With the same wit and charm of the original, Munroe sets out to answer our absurd hypotheticals with real data and calculations, at times consulting experts in the field to paint the most accurately ridiculous answers.
Munroe peppers the book with a variety of responses to the questions he receives in his inbox, from lengthy explanations to complex questions, short answers summed up in a single illustration, and a section dedicated to showcasing the more worrisome questions he has received, my personal favorite asking how long it would take Harry Potter guess-and-checking every wall at the Kings Cross Station if he had forgotten which wall had the secret entrance to platform 9¾. Munroe tackles a wide variety of questions, ranging from asking how long it would take one person to fill a swimming pool with their own saliva to how many toasters it would take to heat up a house.
Munroe’s writing style suits the content of the book perfectly, being the right mix of technical jargon, simplification, and a conversational tone. Munroe has run the webcomic series xkcd since 2005 which covers many similar topics, so he has become very adept at simplifying even the most complex of ideas into something a middle schooler could understand. That’s not to say that this book is written for an audience of middle schoolers, but as someone whose knowledge of water dynamics or astrophysics does not exceed that of the average 12-year-old, Munroe’s concise explanations are perfect for getting the reader up to speed to be able to fully grasp the absurd question and even more absurd answer. Munroe uses illustrations to great effect here, he has a double-play of visually explaining the information for further understanding as well as injecting even more of his brand of humor and personality into the novel.
If you enjoyed the first book or the xkcd webcomics, then you are sure to enjoy more of what you love. If you were once that child that asked nonstop questions, then this book is sure to satisfy your inner child, although it comes with the downside of leaving you itching for more. If you’re like me and love learning about anything and everything but find it hard to engage with a subject if it is too vague or mathy, then Munroe’s style of simplification and humor will surely win you over in this must-read.
I had previously read Munroe’s first, What If?, and quickly found that it was near impossible to put down. When What If? 2 was released, I was caught off guard because I had no idea that another book was planned, let alone released, however, it was everything that I had enjoyed from the first book and more. I highly recommend this excellent book for people of most ages (toddlers would do better to stick with Dr. Suess) because it is approachable and understandable to anyone with simple language, clear visuals, and humor that makes you keep saying “just one more chapter” until you’ve arrived at the end of the book.