--- product_id: 64747395 title: "WHAT IF? (REISSUE)" price: "NZ$39" currency: NZD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.nz/products/64747395-what-if-reissue store_origin: NZ region: New Zealand --- # Premium quality material Secure packaging Explosive, mind-blowing science WHAT IF? (REISSUE) **Price:** NZ$39 **Availability:** βœ… In Stock ## Summary > πŸ“˜ Unlock the science of 'What If?' β€” where curiosity meets explosive fun! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** WHAT IF? (REISSUE) - **How much does it cost?** NZ$39 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.nz](https://www.desertcart.nz/products/64747395-what-if-reissue) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - β€’ **Safe & Sound:** Arrives in secure packaging, perfect for gifting or personal indulgence. - β€’ **Laugh & Learn:** Randall Munroe’s signature humor makes complex science irresistibly entertaining. - β€’ **Dive into Absurdity:** Explore wild, hypothetical science questions that spark curiosity and conversation. - β€’ **Premium Craftsmanship:** Printed on high-quality materials ensuring a durable, collectible edition. - β€’ **Top-Ranked Bestseller:** Join thousands of readers who rated it 4.4 stars and propelled it to top charts in Chemistry and Physics. ## Overview WHAT IF? (REISSUE) is a premium-quality, securely packaged book by Randall Munroe that answers absurd hypothetical science questions with humor and insight. Ranked top in Chemistry and Physics categories, it’s a must-have for curious minds craving a blend of education and entertainment. ## Description THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER From the creator of the wildly popular xkcd.com, hilarious and informative answers to important questions you probably never thought to ask. Millions visit xkcd.com each week to read Randall Munroe's iconic webcomic. Fans ask him a lot of strange questions: How fast can you hit a speed bump, driving, and live? When (if ever) did the sun go down on the British Empire? When will Facebook contain more profiles of dead people than living? How many humans would a T Rex rampaging through New York need to eat a day? In pursuit of answers, Munroe runs computer simulations, pores over stacks of declassified military research memos, solves differential equations and consults nuclear reactor operators. His responses are masterpieces of clarity and hilarity, complemented by comics. They often predict the complete annihilation of humankind, or at least a really big explosion. Review: What If? - This book opens with the best disclaimer I have ever seen: "Do not try any of this at home. The author of this book is an Internet cartoonist, not a health or safety expert. He likes it when things catch fire or explode, which means he does not have your best interests in mind. The publisher and the author disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects resulting, directly or indirectly, from information contained in this book." That disclaimer really sets the tone for this fun book about science: Dangerous ideas ahead, folks! Don't get too close -- these things could kill ya! Randall Munroe used to work at NASA, and now he creates the webcomic XKCD (which sounds less stressful than the NASA gig). On his website, he takes "absurd hypothetical questions" from readers and tries to answer some of them. Here are some of my favorite questions in this book: What would happen if everyone on Earth stood as close to each other as they could and jumped, everyone landing on the ground at the same instant? If every human somehow simply disappeared from the face of the Earth, how long would it be before the last artificial light source would go out? How long could a nuclear submarine last in orbit? From what height would you need to drop a steak for it to be cooked when it hit the ground? If everyone on the planet stayed away from each other for a couple of weeks, wouldn't the common cold be wiped out? Which US state is actually flown over the most? Is there enough energy to move the entire current human population off-planet? How high can a human throw something? How fast can you hit a speed bump while driving and live? When, if ever, will the bandwidth of the Internet surpass that of FedEx? How quickly would the oceans drain if a circular portal 10 meters in radius leading into space were created at the bottom of Challenger Deep, the deepest spot in the ocean? How would the Earth change as the water was being drained? How many Lego bricks would it take to build a bridge capable of carrying traffic from London to New York? Have that many Lego bricks been manufactured? What would happen to the Earth if the Sun suddenly switched off? If you are interested to know any of the answers to those questions, this book is for you! What made this so much fun, aside from the ridiculous questions, is Munroe's sense of humor. Several times I laughed out loud at his drawings and his answers, which is not something that usually happens when I'm reading about science. Oh, and be sure to read his footnotes, which have even more jokes. I think this book would be a great gift for kids who love to ask crazy questions about how the world works. I think I would have loved it when I was 10. Review: Very Entertaining - This book is incredibly entertaining, and the author's sense of humor shines throughout. You'll not only learn but also enjoy some light-hearted jokes and laughter along the way. It's a highly recommended read for students above the 8th grade since it will be more entertaining and educational for them. If you don't have a background in science, some parts may be a bit challenging to grasp. Despite this, the book is engaging and informative. I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the sequel! ## Features - Comes in safe and secure packaging - Langugage: English - It is made up of premium quality material. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #2,872 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #6 in Chemistry Books #10 in Physics (Books) #20 in Humour (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 12,768 Reviews | ## Images ![WHAT IF? (REISSUE) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71k5lJzcAnL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What If? *by λ‚΄***λ‹€ on 4 November 2018* This book opens with the best disclaimer I have ever seen: "Do not try any of this at home. The author of this book is an Internet cartoonist, not a health or safety expert. He likes it when things catch fire or explode, which means he does not have your best interests in mind. The publisher and the author disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects resulting, directly or indirectly, from information contained in this book." That disclaimer really sets the tone for this fun book about science: Dangerous ideas ahead, folks! Don't get too close -- these things could kill ya! Randall Munroe used to work at NASA, and now he creates the webcomic XKCD (which sounds less stressful than the NASA gig). On his website, he takes "absurd hypothetical questions" from readers and tries to answer some of them. Here are some of my favorite questions in this book: What would happen if everyone on Earth stood as close to each other as they could and jumped, everyone landing on the ground at the same instant? If every human somehow simply disappeared from the face of the Earth, how long would it be before the last artificial light source would go out? How long could a nuclear submarine last in orbit? From what height would you need to drop a steak for it to be cooked when it hit the ground? If everyone on the planet stayed away from each other for a couple of weeks, wouldn't the common cold be wiped out? Which US state is actually flown over the most? Is there enough energy to move the entire current human population off-planet? How high can a human throw something? How fast can you hit a speed bump while driving and live? When, if ever, will the bandwidth of the Internet surpass that of FedEx? How quickly would the oceans drain if a circular portal 10 meters in radius leading into space were created at the bottom of Challenger Deep, the deepest spot in the ocean? How would the Earth change as the water was being drained? How many Lego bricks would it take to build a bridge capable of carrying traffic from London to New York? Have that many Lego bricks been manufactured? What would happen to the Earth if the Sun suddenly switched off? If you are interested to know any of the answers to those questions, this book is for you! What made this so much fun, aside from the ridiculous questions, is Munroe's sense of humor. Several times I laughed out loud at his drawings and his answers, which is not something that usually happens when I'm reading about science. Oh, and be sure to read his footnotes, which have even more jokes. I think this book would be a great gift for kids who love to ask crazy questions about how the world works. I think I would have loved it when I was 10. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Entertaining *by A***P on 29 August 2024* This book is incredibly entertaining, and the author's sense of humor shines throughout. You'll not only learn but also enjoy some light-hearted jokes and laughter along the way. It's a highly recommended read for students above the 8th grade since it will be more entertaining and educational for them. If you don't have a background in science, some parts may be a bit challenging to grasp. Despite this, the book is engaging and informative. I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the sequel! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Perfect for all you curious folks out there *by R***L on 1 September 2017* I read 'What If?' because of it being recommended by Bill Gates (yeah, I am a sucker for a billionaire's reading suggestions, I know). This piqued my curiosity and I read it as I getting into the habit of reading books regularly. Anyways, I loved this book almost instantly!! If you are one of the curious types (you know who you are), this book has oodles of curiosity, logic, trivia and back-of-the-envelope calculations! The book is essentially a collection of hypothetical questions like "What if I took a swim in a spent nuclear fuel pool?" or "What would happen if Earth and all terrestrial objects suddenly stopped spinning, but the atmosphere retained its velocity"? The answers are well-thought and logical, while being extremely, ROFL funny. Go for this book, it's like a megadose caffeine shot. ## Frequently Bought Together - What If?: Serious Scientific Answer to Absurd Hypothetical Questions - What If?2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions - How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems from Randall Munroe of xkcd --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - πŸ›’ **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** β€” Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** β€” Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - πŸ’° **No Hidden Fees** β€” All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - πŸ”„ **15-Day Free Returns** β€” Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - πŸ”’ **Secure Payments** β€” Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** β€” Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.nz/products/64747395-what-if-reissue](https://www.desertcart.nz/products/64747395-what-if-reissue) --- *Product available on Desertcart New Zealand* *Store origin: NZ* *Last updated: 2026-06-22*