What If-- ?: Intriguing Answers for the Insatiably Curious

by Marshall Brain

If you've ever scratched your head and thought, "What If you got struck by lightning? What If you stopped paying Taxes? What If we lived on the Moon? What If I did put aluminum foil in the microwave? then you'll be absolutely bowled over by this intriguing guide. With more than seventy captivating, "What If" scenarios than you could ever imagine, this engaging and exciting guidebook answers questions that are serious, fanciful, and well just plain...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764566571
• ISBN13: 9780764566578
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Length: 139 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.2" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Great book for all ages

My 9 year old loves this book. I love this book. What more can I say?

Just plain fun

Marshal Brain has created a niche for taking questions that children and adults come up with that go beyond the normal range of books. Here, he contemplates and answers questions ranging from the scientific "What if someone shot a gun off in an airplane?" to the practical "What if I had to file bankruptcy?" to the just plain strange "What if I tied 150 helium balloons to my Jack Russell terrier that weighs only 10 pounds - would she float away in the air?" Urban myths are addressed also; for example looking at what really would be the result of tossing a coin off the Empire State Building. Each question is treated matter of factly and this dry tone makes reading a few pages enjoyable, but you wouldn't really want to sit down and just read cover to cover. I suspect that this book will appear in many bathrooms, where short span reading is valued. Brain notes his favorite questions, as well as perennial favorites at his web site. It sometimes shows that he puts in more love to his favorites but works he works hard on all his questions. Overall, you may walk away having learned something as well as being entertained. Wonderful for curious children of all ages.

This is a very fun book.

When I first opened it and read it i read alomost the whole thing. It is a very fun read, but dont read it all al once, it makes you get very sick of the book and you wont want to read it again.