Randall Munroe, the genius behind XKCD

Sep 16, 2019

Randall Munroe, the brilliant mind behind the webcomic XKCD, shares insights into his creative process and the inspiration behind his new book, 'How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems.' He discusses intriguing topics such as how lightning remains a mystery to scientists and why aliens would likely approach bridge building like humans. Munroe emphasizes the importance of curiosity, reflects on historical figures who anticipated scientific discoveries, and shares some of the best book recommendations you'll hear.

01:27:49

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Overcoming Insecurity

Don't be embarrassed about not knowing things.
Ask questions and be open about what you don't understand.

insights

INSIGHT

Pedantry Kills Creativity

Pedantry creates a vicious cycle where people are afraid to share what they don't know.
This hinders learning and collaboration, so be less pedantic.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Digging for Treasure

Randall Munroe discusses a thought experiment about digging for buried treasure.
He calculated the hole size at which digging becomes less profitable than a regular job.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Navigating Complexity in Math and Physics

04:20 • 26min

chevron_right

The Quest for Knowledge and Treasure: A Deep Dive

30:37 • 4min

chevron_right

Exploring Inquiry Through the Niagara Falls Conundrum

34:33 • 6min

chevron_right

Crafting Visual Narratives

40:11 • 10min

chevron_right

Exploring Wonder and World-Building in Storytelling

50:32 • 2min

chevron_right

The Art of Communication and Community

52:39 • 18min

chevron_right

Exploring Knowledge Through Time and Space

01:10:27 • 15min

chevron_right

Thing Explainer

Complicated Stuff in Simple Words

Randall Munroe

In Thing Explainer, Randall Munroe uses line drawings and a limited vocabulary of the 1,000 most common English words to explain a wide range of complex subjects. The book covers topics such as technology (e. g. , microwaves as 'food-heating radio boxes'), human organs (e. g. , cells as 'tiny bags of water you’re made of'), and conceptual subjects like the periodic table and the solar system. Munroe's approach makes these explanations both humorous and understandable, appealing to a broad range of readers from children to adults. The book is praised for its creative use of language and its ability to make complex ideas accessible and entertaining.

How to Change

The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Katy Milkman

In this ground-breaking book, Katy Milkman reveals a proven path to help readers move from where they are to where they want to be. Drawing on her original research and the work of her world-renowned scientific collaborators, Milkman shares strategic methods for identifying and overcoming common barriers to change, such as impulsivity, procrastination, and forgetfulness. The book offers innovative approaches like 'temptation bundling,' using timely reminders, and creating 'set-it-and-forget-it systems' to make change more achievable. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring solutions to specific roadblocks and using science to stack the deck in favor of successful change.

How To

Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems

Randall Munroe

In this book, Randall Munroe applies his signature blend of humor and scientific rigor to everyday tasks and real-world problems. He tackles questions such as how to dig a hole, move a house, cross a river, and even build a lava moat, using infographics, cartoons, and equations to explain the absurdly impractical solutions. The book is filled with ludicrous yet scientifically valid answers, making it both entertaining and educational.

Because Internet

Understanding the New Rules of Language

Gretchen McCulloch

In 'Because Internet,' Gretchen McCulloch delves into the ways the internet has influenced language, from the development of texting and memes to the use of emojis and emoticons. The book examines how internet conversations are structured by the shape of our apps and platforms, and how social media acts as a laboratory for unedited and unfiltered language. McCulloch discusses how our online interactions reveal aspects of our identities and how language evolves quickly through online communities. She also explores the historical context of internet language, including the different generations of internet users and their unique linguistic styles.

The natural and moral history of the Indies

José de Acosta

José de Acosta's *The Natural and Moral History of the Indies* is a seminal work that provides a broad and detailed account of the New World. Published in 1590, it describes the region's natural resources, flora, fauna, and indigenous cultures, offering insights into the political and religious practices of the Aztecs and Incas. Acosta's work was groundbreaking in its time, contributing significantly to European understanding of the Americas.

Murmurs of Earth

Carl Sagan

While not explicitly named in the transcript, the context strongly suggests that "Murmurs of Earth" is a book about Carl Sagan's work on the Golden Record. It likely details the creation, content, and significance of the Voyager Golden Record, a time capsule of human culture and knowledge sent into space. The book probably explores the scientific and philosophical implications of sending a message to potential extraterrestrial civilizations. It might also discuss the challenges and controversies surrounding the project, such as the selection of content and the potential risks of revealing Earth's location. The book's impact is likely to be significant in the field of astrobiology and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

I’m not usually a fanboy on this podcast, but this episode is the exception.

I love the web-comic XKCD. I’ve had prints of it hanging in my house for years. It’s nerdy and humane, curious and kind. And every so often, it’s explosively, crazily creative, in ways that leave me floored. Like the Hugo-award winning “Time,” a 3,099 frame animation that unspooled every hour for over four months. Or the book Thing Explainer, which used only the 1,000 most common words in the English language to explain some of the hardest ideas in the world.

XKCD is the work of one person, Randall Munroe, and I’ve wanted to talk with him for years. Now he’s out with a new book, How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems, and I got my chance. The episode covers:

- The simple places Munroe draws inspiration for his ideas

- The fact that scientists still don’t know how lightning works or why ice is slippery

- How pedantry kills creativity

- Why aliens probably build suspension bridges like we do

- The superpower of refusing to be embarrassed by what you don’t know

- How to retain a sense of wonder as you age

- Whether the water of Niagra Falls can fit through a straw

- How to dig a hole

- How a priest in 1590 intuited dozens of scientific discoveries centuries before they were officially discovered

- And, most importantly, the best book recommendations I think I’ve ever heard on the show

This one was a pleasure.

References:

Jimmy Carter's Voyager letter

Book recommendations:

Natural and Moral History of the Indies by José de Acosta

Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch

Murmurs of Earth: The Voyager Interstellar Record by Carl Sagan (and others)

Want to contact the show? Reach out at ezrakleinshow@vox.com

News comes at you fast. Join us at the end of your day to understand it. Subscribe to Today, Explained

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Home Top podcasts Popular guests