I try to recommend a variety of styles, themes and topics here on Raincity Librarian, but the reality is that I know what I like and I read what I like, so a lot of my posts are variations on a bookish theme.
To help me provide a different perspective, I’ve got a recommendation from a very special guest, my partner, the Raincity Software Engineer!
If you’re a bit of a fellow nerd, the Raincity Software Engineer would suggest checking out What If? : Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe.
Randall Munroe is the creator of xkcd, “a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language”. What If? is based on a long-running feature on Munroe’s website in which he uses hard science to provide serious (yet often hilarious) answers to readers’ ridiculous questions.
Mathematics was never my strong suit, I avoided all chemistry and physics classes in high school, and I’ve never managed to code anything beyond “Hello World” in Visual Basic, so a lot of the content in What If? most certainly flew over my very confused artsy head. Randall Munroe is a very intelligent, very nerdy individual, and he doesn’t pull his scientific punches here. If the sight of a mathematical formula gives you chest pains, this might not be the best book for you.
But, if you are a science nerd or computer geek like the Raincity Software Engineer (and I mean that in the most loving way possible), this collection of humorous, science-based anecdotes might be right up your alley. Each short chapter covers a different question from start to finish, complete with Munroe’s signature stick men illustrations. The Raincity Software Engineer works your typical tech company hours, and doesn’t have a lot of free time, so he particularly enjoyed being able to pick up the book, read a section, and then pick it up again a couple days later, without having to get caught up again on the story. Read a chapter, put it down, and get on with your life!
Hard science served with a comedic chaser – What If? is a good choice if you’re looking to do some learning and laughing.
Rain City Software Engineer would also love the Baby Loves Science series from Charlesbridge. It has titles like Baby Loves Quarks. Not quite as snarky but very fun.
YES! Perfect for storytime with the neices and nephews. ?
Interesting! I’m not really a math expert or a computer geek, although I do love technology and I write about it a lot. This book would probably be over my head! The illustration you’ve provided is definitely funny, though!
Yes, thankfully it’s real science with plenty of humour to keep things entertaining for us newbies! ?
Oh, this sounds like fun! I’m not too mathematically inclined, but I’m always game. 🙂
I have no aptitude for numbers, but I do like humour and stick figures, so I enjoyed this one, too – though I did sometimes have to ask my hubby to explain things for me! 😉