What If?

Bibliographic Information
Title: What if? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
Author: Randall Munroe
Type of Media: text
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Copyright Date: September 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-0544272996
Genre: Nonfiction
Curriculum Ties: Science
Interest Age: 14+






 Summary
 Monroe put together a compilation of wacky and random questions which he then attempts to give a real factual answer to. From questions like "what would happen if the Earth and all terrestrial objects suddenly stopped spinning, but the atmosphere retained its velocity?" to "what if I took a swim in a typical spent nuclear fuel pool?" this book tackles it all.

Critical Evaluation
This book is not written for teens but it is written in a way that screams for teens to read it.Monroe does a great job of taking very scientific topics, terms, and information and presenting it in a fun way. The language is still somewhat complicated but for older teens it is a very interesting approach to topics they would not otherwise care about. The book also contains pictures to go along with the explanations which graphically display some of the information presented. All science teachers should take a page from Monroe's book on how to take difficult topics and explain it in a goofy and fun way.

Author Biography
Randall Munroe is the author of the popular webcomic xkcd and the science question-and-answer blog What If. 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, supporting himself through the sale of xkcd t-shirts, prints, posters, and books. He likes candlelight dinners and long walks on the beach. Very long walks. Lots of people say they like long walks on the beach, but then they get out on the beach and after just an hour or two, they say they're getting tired. Bring a tent. He lives in Massachusetts.

Randall Monroe. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Randall-Munroe/e/B004H66444/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Book Talk Ideas

• Fun science

Possible Challenges
 There is not any challenges to this book that I can foresee.

 Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for InclusionIt is hard to find ways to entice teens into learning especially when the topics are difficult to understand and this book is a fantastic tool for that.