Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words
/thing-explainer-complicated-20065.jpg "Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words")
- The De-Textbook: The Stuff You Didn't Know About the Stuff You Thought You Knew - $14.75
- Science: Ruining Everything Since 1543 - $12.59
- WTF, Evolution?!: A Theory of Unintelligible Design - $8.87
- xkcd: volume 0 - $14.16
- Your Atomic Self: The Invisible Elements That Connect You to Everything Else in the Universe - $20.42
While I think Randall Munroe takes things, or, more precisely, thing explaining, too far when he "un-jargons" words such as smartphone ("hand computer"), helicopter ("plane with turning wings"), and microwave ("food-heating radio box") I do appreciate his book's agenda: to provide concise rundowns of the incredible stuff we regularly use and encounter in terms that won't make us sorry we asked.
Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words offers up painless, common-word answers to questions about how things work, where they came from, and what would happen if we turned them over, opened them up, or pressed this button. Each entry includes a line drawing of the thing at hand and 1,000 easily digested words about its origin, composition, and functionality. In addition to the aforementioned gadgets, Thing Explainer covers:
- Tall roads (bridges)
- Computer buildings (datacenters)
- The shared space house (the International Space Station)
- The other worlds around the sun (the solar system)
- The big flat rocks we live on (tectonic plates)
- The pieces everything is made of (the periodic table)
- Boxes that make clothes smell better (washers and dryers)
- The bags of stuff inside you (cells)
DudeIWantThat.com is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
/arma-g1-secure-communicator-62217.jpg?mode=crop "ARMA G1 Top Secret Secure Communicator")
ARMA G1 Top Secret Secure Communicator
Secrets, secrets are no fun / Secrets, secrets...are very easy to keep, however, with the ARMA G1. The ARMA G1 secure communicator believes itself to be a steel-reinforced concrete vault of messaging. Designed for "TOP...
Aerogel - World's Lightest Solid
Not only is aerogel the world's lightest solid with a composition of 99.8% air (carbon dioxide) and 0.2% silica gel, and not only does it have sick nicknames, such as "frozen smoke" and "blue smoke", but it also has the...
The Chaos Machine
Chaos is an area of mathematics that studies complex systems and the mind-blowing effects seemingly small, inconsequential changes can have on them. Dr. Ian Malcolm used one example of the Chaos in action, the Butterfly...
/chill-sack-8-foot-bean-bag-24025.jpg?mode=crop "Chill Sack 8-Foot Bean Bag Chair")
Chill Sack 8-Foot Bean Bag Chair
They call it the Chill Sack only to avoid the lawyers' C&D letter or profit-sharing demands from a major corporation. But you can go ahead and call this giant 8-foot bean bag chair built for two (or three!) like it is:...
/leidenfrost-effect-ring-23711.jpg "Leidenfrost Effect Ring")
Leidenfrost Effect Ring
I love the dude who makes Grand Illusions' videos. I think his name is either George or Hendrik. Both because George Auckland and Hendrik Ball are the two Brits who founded and run Grand Illusions out of an 18th century...
Kinetic Sand
It's 2.2 pounds--or what the rest of the world calls 1 kilogram--of tactile stimulation and scientific wonderment. While all sand can technically enjoy kinetic activities, Kinetic Sand claims the additional bragging rights...
/liquid-glass-putty-8463.jpg?mode=crop "Liquid Glass Putty")
Liquid Glass Putty
Crazy Aaron says his Liquid Glass Thinking Putty is "so clear you'll think the can is empty." Well thanks for the warning, Crazy A, because I'm tired of spending the money I work so hard to earn from my mama's allowance...
/gifts-for-people-who-dont-36324.jpg?mode=crop "Gifts for People Who Don't Think We Landed on the Moon")
Gifts for People Who Don't Think We Landed on the Moon
I was surprised to hear Steph Curry isn't the first person to think we never landed on the moon. That there have actually been many a conspiracist thoughtful skeptic who claims, and has endeavored to prove over the past...
/vortex-dome-rheoscopic-fluid-34467.jpg?mode=crop "Vortex Dome Rheoscopic Fluid Desk Toy")
Vortex Dome Rheoscopic Fluid Desk Toy
The Vortex Dome is a science-packed desk toy that does for you eyes what fidget toys do for your hands. With a stainless steel and ball bearing spinning base, the Vortex Dome gets a little tactile stimulation in there...
/impossible-table-desktop-43132.jpg?mode=crop "Impossible Table - Desktop Tensegrity Demonstration")
Impossible Table - Desktop Tensegrity Demonstration
The Impossible Table is a desktop toy that defies the laws of physics! No wait, I mean the Impossible Table is a desktop toy that complies with the laws of physics! Specifically, the laws that apply to the tensegrity*...
/feel-flux-anti-gravity-toy-23535.jpg "Feel Flux Anti-Gravity Toy")
Feel Flux Anti-Gravity Toy
Flux is metal and magnets, geometry and physics. Flux is for ye who fidget and ye who do tricks. Flux is a bringer of zen relaxation, party conversation, and experimental demonstration. Flux is a physics-based toy made...
/corporate-nonsense-generator-59494.jpg?mode=crop "Corporate Nonsense Generator Fidget Toy")
Corporate Nonsense Generator Fidget Toy
You say "Corporate Nonsense Generator," I say, "Corporate Bullshit Generator," Uncommon Goods? Why? Because you're a corporation that has to proactively leverage deliverables for stakeholders, and I am a normal human...