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For Him / Her / Kids
What If? 2 — serious science for ridiculous questions
What If? 2 by Randall Munroe (Hardcover)
Reviewed by the WhyToBuyThis team · Updated September 2026 · How we choose
Perfect for
- xkcd readers
- Science fans
- Curious teens
- Bedside reading
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Price: $14.38
Price may change on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This won't cost you anything extra.
- Great gift ideaChosen for real-world gifting
- Hand-pickedCurated, not scraped
- Honest reviewThe catch, not just the hype
Why this gift works
Randall Munroe worked on robotics at NASA before creating the webcomic xkcd. In What If? 2 he takes absurd hypothetical questions - how long would it take to fill a swimming pool with spit? - and answers them with real physics, careful estimates and his stick-figure drawings.
The 2022 hardcover has 64 full answers plus dozens of shorter ones. It is the rare science book that is as funny as it is accurate, and it is easy to dip into for a few pages at a time.
Who is this gift for?
Great for
- Someone who quotes xkcd comics
- A curious teen who asks endless 'what if' questions
Think twice if
- They already have it
- They prefer serious nonfiction
The catch
The humor runs dark and silly at times, and it is written for fun rather than depth - someone wanting a serious physics book will find it light.
Skip for someone who already owns it, or who dislikes offbeat humor.
Key specs
| Author | Randall Munroe, creator of xkcd |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Riverhead Books |
| Published | September 13, 2022 |
| Format | Hardcover, 368 pages |
| ISBN-13 | 9780525537113 |
| Answers | 64 full answers plus dozens of short ones |
| Audiobook | Read by Wil Wheaton, about 6.5 hours |
Worth knowing before you buy
- It is the sequel to the 2014 bestseller What If?
- The drawings are simple stick figures.
Why we like it
- Real science in a very funny package
- Easy to read a few pages at a time
- Stick-figure drawings on almost every page
What to look for in a science book gift
- Tone. Funny, question-driven books suit casual readers; textbook-style ones suit serious students.
- Short chapters. Stand-alone chapters are easy to dip into for a few minutes at a time.
- Pictures. Drawings and diagrams help ideas stick and make it fun to flip through.
- Series order. Check whether a sequel stands alone - What If? 2 does.
- Format. Hardcovers make better gifts; the audiobook suits someone who commutes.
Questions people ask
No - each answer stands alone, so it works on its own.
Featured in these gift guides
- Gifts for Geeks Who Build, Tinker and Take Things ApartGifts for geeks: a Raspberry Pi 5 kit, the LEGO Saturn V, a Keychron keyboard, Arduino starter kit, Nanoleaf panels and What If? 2, at every budget.
- Gifts for Engineers: Precision Tools, Desk Gear and Books They RespectGifts for engineers: a Mitutoyo caliper, an iFixit Mako kit, a Klein multimeter, a rOtring 600, The Design of Everyday Things, LEGO Saturn V and more.
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