Kindle Unlimited: Get 3 months free Prime Member exclusive
Buy New
To see product details, add this item to your cart.
Ships from: Amazon
Sold by: AV02 Store
To see product details, add this item to your cart. You can always remove it later.
Ships from
Amazon
Amazon
Ships from
Amazon
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Gift options
Available at checkout
Available at checkout This item is a gift. Change
At checkout, you can add a custom message, a gift receipt for easy returns and have the item gift-wrapped
To see product details, add this item to your cart. You can always remove it later.
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your wish lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle app

  • What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

Follow the author

Get new release updates via the Kindle app & improved recommendations.
Randall Munroe
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions Hardcover – Sept. 13 2022

by Randall Munroe (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars (5,048)
4.4 on Goodreads
18,036 ratings

Purchase options and add-ons

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

An NPR Best Book of 2022

"The questions throughout What If? 2 are equal parts brilliant, gross, and wonderfully absurd and the answers are thorough, deeply researched, and great fun. . . . Science isn’t easy, but in Munroe’s capable hands, it surely can be fun." —TIME

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of What If? and How To answers more of the weirdest questions you never thought to ask
 
The millions of people around the world who read and loved What If? still have questions, and those questions are getting stranger. Thank goodness xkcd creator Randall Munroe is here to help. Planning to ride a fire pole from the Moon back to Earth? The hardest part is sticking the landing. Hoping to cool the atmosphere by opening everyone’s freezer door at the same time? Maybe it’s time for a brief introduction to thermodynamics. Want to know what would happen if you rode a helicopter blade, built a billion-story building, made a lava lamp out of lava, or jumped on a geyser as it erupted? Okay, if you insist.

Before you go on a cosmic road trip, feed the residents of New York City to a T. rex, or fill every church with bananas, be sure to consult this practical guide for impractical ideas. Unfazed by absurdity, Munroe consults the latest research on everything from swing-set physics to airliner catapult–design to answer his readers’ questions, clearly and concisely, with illuminating and occasionally terrifying illustrations. As he consistently demonstrates, you can learn a lot from examining how the world might work in very specific extreme circumstances.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Part of series
    What If?
  2. Print length
    368 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Riverhead Books
  5. Publication date
    Sept. 13 2022
  6. Dimensions
    18.36 x 2.95 x 23.55 cm
  7. ISBN-10
    0525537112
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0525537113
Next slide of product details

Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition

Frequently bought together

This item: What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
$30.00
Get it by Monday, Jun 8
In Stock
Sold by AV02 Store and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems
$37.00
Get it by Monday, Jun 8
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
+
Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words
$33.50
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.
Popular Highlights in this book
What are Popular Highlights?
Previous page
  1. “Stand on the other side from where the physics is happening” is actually a good general rule for scientific equipment.
    Highlighted by 604 Kindle readers
  2. A mirage is a reflection of the sky; light from the sky comes down near the surface and then bends up toward your eye, so it looks like it’s coming from the ground.
    Highlighted by 271 Kindle readers
Next page

From the Publisher

From the author of WHAT IF? and HOT TO: what if? 2 by Randall Monroe

A practical guide for impractical ideas.

Full of the latest research on everything from swing-set physics to airliner catapult design

And the answers to more of the weirdest questions you never thought to ask

Product description

Review

Praise for What If? 2

“Delightful. . . Randall Munroe has made a career out of sharing his joy in science and engineering. . . . This book and its predecessor inspire us to believe that, even in a vast and mysterious universe, there’s a lot we can figure out with nothing but a sharp pencil, come basic scientific knowledge and a vivid imagination.” —The Wall Street Journal

"The questions throughout What If? 2 are equal parts brilliant, gross, and wonderfully absurd and the answers are thorough, deeply researched, and great fun. . . . Science isn’t easy, but in Munroe’s capable hands, it surely can be fun." —TIME

"Picking this book up now and then enlivens life by letting you briefly consider the effects of, say, putting an indestructible 20-meter-wide glass tube all the way down to the deepest part of the ocean. Plus, Munroe’s illustrations turn stick figures and flowcharts into the stuff of existential hilarity." —NPR 

"Entertaining. . . . combines Munroe’s true research and truly funny prose with his signature stick-figure illustrations." —The Washington Post

"Perfect if you enjoy it when stuffy figures of authority crack a smile. Or if you like it when black holes form. That happens a lot." —Newsweek

"One of my favorite books of the year." —Tim Harford, Financial Times

"It's an absolute delight! It's the coolest way to learn how the world actually works." —Hank Green (on the Dear Hank & John podcast) 

“A delight for science geeks with a penchant for oddball thought experiments.” —Kirkus

Praise for Randall Munroe and What If?

“Randall Munroe is a national treasure.” —Phil Plait
 
“Extreme astrophysics and indecipherable chemistry have rarely been this clearly explained or this consistently hilarious.” —Entertainment Weekly “10 Best Nonfiction Books of the Year”

“Consistently fascinating and entertaining...Munroe leavens the hard science with whimsical touches... An illuminating handbook of methods of reasoning.” —Wall Street Journal

“It’s fun to watch as Munroe tackles each question and examines every possible complication with nerdy and methodical aplomb.... The delightfully demented What If? is the most fun you can have with math and science, short of becoming your own evil genius.” —Boston Globe

About the Author

Randall Munroe is the author of the New York Times bestsellers What If? 2, How To, What If?, and Thing Explainer; the science question-and-answer blog What If?; and the popular web comic xkcd. A former NASA roboticist, he left the agency in 2006 to draw comics on the internet full time. He lives in Massachusetts.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Riverhead Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ Sept. 13 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0525537112
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0525537113
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 816 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 18.36 x 2.95 x 23.55 cm
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ What If?
  • Best Sellers Rank: #13,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars (5,048)

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Randall Munroe

Randall Munroe

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Randall Munroe is the creator of the webcomic xkcd and author of xkcd: Volume 0. Randall was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, and grew up outside Richmond, Virginia. After studying physics at Christopher Newport University, he got a job building robots at NASA Langley Research Center. In 2006 he left NASA to draw comics on the internet full time, and has since been nominated for a Hugo Award three times. The International Astronomical Union recently named an asteroid after him: asteroid 4942 Munroe is big enough to cause mass extinction if it ever hits a planet like Earth.

Related books

Page 1 Of 1Start Over
Sponsored
Previous page
  1. Shop the store on Amazon ›
    The Book. The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization - Inspirational Science Books for Adults - Unique Artifact - Knowledge Encyclopedia with Over 400 Pages of Detailed & Catchy Illustrations
    The Book. The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization - Inspirational Science Books for Adults - Unique Artifact - Knowledge Encyclopedia with Over 400 Pages of Detailed & Catchy Illustrations
    4.64.6 out of 5 stars2,600
    $169.00
  2. Shop the store on Amazon ›
    The Socratic Way Of Questioning: How To Use Socrates' Method To Discover The Truth And Argue Wisely
    The Socratic Way Of Questioning: How To Use Socrates' Method To Discover The Truth And Argue Wisely
    4.24.2 out of 5 stars472
    $36.19
Next page

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
5,048 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find this book wonderful and consider it a worthy follow-up. They describe it as very amusing and a guarantee for laughter. Readers appreciate finding answers to interesting questions with thoughtful responses. The book is considered fun, interesting, and engaging. Parents note it's an amazing choice for 11+ kids and suitable for both children and adults.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

52 customers mention content, 51 positive, 1 negative
Customers find this book to be a wonderful and essential read that serves as a good reference. They consider it a true masterpiece and a worthy follow-up to the series.
It’s a good book but Amazon can’t even ship them properly. It’s badly damaged with half the pages horribly dogeared....Read more
...A must read for Randall / xkcd fans !Read more
very good book but I like the first one better.Read more
I love the humour, excellent books I would recommend for fun and light readingRead more
25 customers mention humor, 25 positive, 0 negative
Customers find the book very amusing and describe it as fun and interesting. They mention it's a guarantee for laughter with consistent humor throughout. Readers describe the experience as super nerdy and engaging.
These books are so funny and educational. Best coffee book table book ever. No one that has picked it up at our house has ever been disappointed..Read more
I love the humour, excellent books I would recommend for fun and light readingRead more
I feel like less things end all life as we know it, but it's still hilarious....Read more
Very amusing. Always a fan of Randall.Read more
17 customers mention educational, 17 positive, 0 negative
Customers find the book educational and enlightening. They appreciate the thoughtful answers to interesting questions and describe the content as mind-blowing. The book provides a very enlightening experience and allows readers to learn through silliness.
...I would have read two hundred of those ! So funny, so witty, so thoughtful, so increadibly mind blowing to go to those lenghts of "if..." !...Read more
These books are so funny and educational. Best coffee book table book ever. No one that has picked it up at our house has ever been disappointed..Read more
best for math and science lovers.Read more
Munroe again applies principles of physics to answer questions, some very silly indeed, from his readers, and often goes beyond the simple answer to...Read more
17 customers mention engaging, 17 positive, 0 negative
Customers find the book engaging and interesting. They describe it as a great read for those with an inquisitive mind and mention it offers lots of very interesting subjects. Readers report it provides an enjoyable journey through its content.
...answers them with real science in a way that’s easy to understand, engaging, and laugh-out-loud entertaining.Read more
12 customers mention suitable for kids, 12 positive, 0 negative
Customers find this book well-suited for children, describing it as amazing for 11+ kids and perfect for curious kids. They consider it a great choice for both children and adults, with some calling it the best gift for nerdy families and a must read for both age groups. The book appeals to those with cerebral interests, making it a recommended gift for engineer-type brains.
...Even his grandpa like reading it from time to time. Great for kids that are interested in this kind of outrageous humourRead more
Smart, Funny, and Perfect for Curious Kids (and Parents Too!)Read more
BEST GIFT FOR NERDY FAMILY AND FRIENDSRead more
Good Book. Bad Shipping.
3 out of 5 stars
Good Book. Bad Shipping.
It’s a good book but Amazon can’t even ship them properly. It’s badly damaged with half the pages horribly dogeared. Don’t make my mistake. Buy this from a different bookstore.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from Canada

  • Xiaoji Shan
    5 out of 5 stars
    Smart, Funny, and Perfect for Curious Kids (and Parents Too!)
    Reviewed in Canada on February 9, 2026
    Format: Hardcover
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    My son absolutely loves What If? 2, and honestly, I’ve enjoyed it just as much. The book takes absurd, funny questions and answers them with real science in a way that’s easy to understand, engaging, and laugh-out-loud entertaining.

    Sending feedback...
    Thank you for your feedback.
    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
  • A.M.
    5 out of 5 stars
    So amazing, you have to get this book
    Reviewed in Canada on December 29, 2025
    Format: Hardcover
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    These books are so funny and educational. Best coffee book table book ever. No one that has picked it up at our house has ever been disappointed..

    Sending feedback...
    Thank you for your feedback.
    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
  • Jonathan Bergeron
    5 out of 5 stars
    A must read for Randall / xkcd fans !
    Reviewed in Canada on July 2, 2025
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    What do you mean, there are only two "what if" ?! I would have read two hundred of those ! So funny, so witty, so thoughtful, so increadibly mind blowing to go to those lenghts of "if..." ! A must read for Randall / xkcd fans !

    Sending feedback...
    Thank you for your feedback.
    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
  • Stephen Hahn
    4 out of 5 stars
    very good book but I like the first one better.
    Reviewed in Canada on December 21, 2022
    Format: Hardcover
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    best for math and science lovers.

    One person found this helpful
    Sending feedback...
    Thank you for your feedback.
    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
  • Bryden
    5 out of 5 stars
    A book that makes you LOL
    Reviewed in Canada on April 7, 2026
    Format: Hardcover
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    My son laughs out loud as he's reading this book. Even his grandpa like reading it from time to time. Great for kids that are interested in this kind of outrageous humour

    Sending feedback...
    Thank you for your feedback.
    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
  • DM
    5 out of 5 stars
    Buy it
    Reviewed in Canada on September 9, 2025
    Format: Hardcover
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Very amusing. Always a fan of Randall.

    Sending feedback...
    Thank you for your feedback.
    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
  • Willem
    5 out of 5 stars
    good book
    Reviewed in Canada on December 17, 2025
    Format: Hardcover
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    thanks randall, very cool

    Sending feedback...
    Thank you for your feedback.
    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
  • catter
    5 out of 5 stars
    Completely absurd, incredibly funny
    Reviewed in Canada on December 11, 2024
    Format: Hardcover
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    All his books are so well done. Serious research and detail goes into the most absurd questions, and he answers them straight on.

    Sending feedback...
    Thank you for your feedback.
    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
See more reviews

Top reviews from other countries

    Translated by Amazon
    See original
  • Jericho Ruz
    5 out of 5 stars
    Magnifique
    Reviewed in Mexico on February 3, 2026
    Format: Hardcover
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Magnifico libro y autor

    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
    Translated from Spanish by Amazon
    See original
  • Lizarman
    5 out of 5 stars
    Such a fun an interesting book
    Reviewed in Spain on May 10, 2026
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Extremely fun book for curious nerds

    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
  • BARRY JOSEPH
    4 out of 5 stars
    ter-informatie
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on September 15, 2023
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Order ontvangen maar geen track en trace gezien, wel jammer.

    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
    Translated from Dutch by Amazon
    See original
  • Pietro C.
    5 out of 5 stars
    spassoso, piacevolissima lettura
    Reviewed in Italy on July 17, 2023
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    conoscevo gia' la comic strip 'xkcd' di Randall Munroe e il sito collegato 'explain xkcd'

    il libro gli offre piu' spazio e la vignetta diventa un breve racconto

    il tono umoristico e' sempre spiazzante e imprevedibile

    si legge piacevolmente

    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
    Translated from Italian by Amazon
    See original
  • noyer gwenael
    5 out of 5 stars
    drôle et intelligent
    Reviewed in France on September 8, 2025
    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Super drôle et franchement très intéressant !

    Sending feedback...
    Thanks, we’ll investigate in the next few days.
    Translated from French by Amazon
    See original
See more reviews