I'm obsessed with "What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions" by Randall Munroe! It's an incredible read that educates AND entertains. It takes absurd, bizarre questions like “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?” and answers them using real-world science. I love learning about stuff like particle accelerators and black holes in a fun way - it can get dense but Munroe makes sure you never feel lost in the jargon or details. Plus then there are stories of my favorite historical figures that illuminate his points even more!
I've already purchased this book twice (once for me, once for my sister) so it must be good...right!? Every time I bring up something from the book during dinner conversation everyone gets super excited because we all geek out over these unlikely scenarios - plus who doesn't want a refresher course in physics?!
My house is quickly becoming known as the place where people hang and discuss What If?, followed by long bouts of laughter while we come up with our own imaginative questions. Hey Rutherford, what do you think would happen if I ate 1 million marshmallows?
It's great for kids too - mine have given powerful presentations about vacuum chambers at school thanks to the info gained from reading this small-but-mighty volume of knowledge. My libraries are overflowing with serious scientific books but nothing quite compares with What If? And don't forget Amazon! You can check out this link here and buy your own copy today - highly recommended!!