Randall Munroe author photo
Image via Викисклад, лицензия CC BY-SA 4.0.

Randall Munroe

Дата рождения: October 17, 1984 – Easton, Pennsylvania, United States

Социальные сети:

Randall Munroe is an American cartoonist, author, and former NASA roboticist best known for creating xkcd, the webcomic that blends humor with science, technology, and mathematics. He also wrote the bestselling books What If? and Thing Explainer, and has become a widely read popularizer of scientific thinking for millions online.

Биография и Путь Автора

Randall Munroe was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, and grew up outside Richmond, Virginia. He studied physics at Christopher Newport University and then joined NASA’s Langley Research Center, where he worked on robots. The decisive turn in his career came while he was still drawing for himself and friends: in 2005 he began posting scanned stick-figure doodles online as xkcd, a project that fused dry humor with the habits of a physicist. By 2006 he had left NASA to make comics full time, turning a side experiment into one of the internet’s most recognizable author-led publications.

Показать Больше

Цитаты

quote
I'm just this guy, you know?
-xkcd: About
quote
What a nightmare that would be
-Soul Mates
quote
Did you bring a coat?
-Rising Steadily
quote
No. In fact, it's honestly sort of impressive to find a solution that would actively make the problem worse in so many different ways
-Comet Ice
quote
For one, someone at NASA would probably yell at us
-Earth-Moon Fire Pole
quote
This is probably the single most popular question submitted to What If
-Sunless Earth
quote
The Earth’s spin is slowing down. This is annoying
-Leap Seconds
quote
A couple dozen people could pull a half-inch iron rod apart
-Tug of War

Узнать больше

Books Recommended by Elon Musk
КНИГИ

Books Recommended by Elon Musk

Explore Elon Musk's reading list—books on tech, sci-fi, AI, and ambition to spark bold thinking and reshape how you see the future.

Команда BeFreed

Explore Tech, Mind, Science & Philosophy

Explore Tech, Mind, Science & Philosophy

ПЛАН ОБУЧЕНИЯ

Explore Tech, Mind, Science & Philosophy

In an era of rapid technological change, understanding the synergy between code, consciousness, and the cosmos is essential. This plan is designed for curious minds and polymaths who want to bridge the gap between technical skills and deep philosophical inquiry.

2 h 35 m4 Разделы
Mindset, Manga Art & Engineering Mastery

Mindset, Manga Art & Engineering Mastery

ПЛАН ОБУЧЕНИЯ

Mindset, Manga Art & Engineering Mastery

This interdisciplinary plan is designed for polymaths and creators who want to bridge the gap between technical rigor and creative expression. It is ideal for engineers seeking a creative outlet or artists looking to apply systematic problem-solving to their craft.

2 h 54 m4 Разделы
Sam Altman's Blueprint for Bold Thinkers
КНИГИ

Sam Altman's Blueprint for Bold Thinkers

Fuel innovation with books that shaped OpenAI's visionary leader.

Команда BeFreed

Explore Creativity, Behavior & Tech

Explore Creativity, Behavior & Tech

ПЛАН ОБУЧЕНИЯ

Explore Creativity, Behavior & Tech

This plan bridges the gap between psychological theory and modern technological design. It is ideal for designers, product managers, and innovators looking to build impactful, ethical digital solutions rooted in human behavior.

2 h 26 m4 Разделы
The Tools Smart People Are Using in 2026
БЛОГ

The Tools Smart People Are Using in 2026

Discover the four essential tools powering smarter work in 2026—BeFreed, Beancount.io, Raycast, and Perplexity AI—built for clarity, control, and creative efficiency.

BeFreed Team

Yann LeCun's Essential Reads for AI Brilliance
КНИГИ

Yann LeCun's Essential Reads for AI Brilliance

Meta's Chief AI Scientist's favorite books on intelligence, creativity, and human potential.

Команда BeFreed

Creativity, Inspiration & Behavior Science

Creativity, Inspiration & Behavior Science

ПЛАН ОБУЧЕНИЯ

Creativity, Inspiration & Behavior Science

This plan bridges the gap between neurological creativity and practical behavioral science. It is essential for leaders, designers, and innovators who want to master the science of human motivation and peak performance to drive real-world change.

2 h 38 m4 Разделы

Голоса Сообщества

"Randall Munroe’s webcomic xkcd casts an optimistic eye on the geek lifestyle"

WIRED ((

"Randall Munroe is the Cambridge-based former NASA roboticist turned celebrity cartoonist behind the uber-popular website xkcd"

The Boston Globe ((

"It’s difficult enough to find the humor in science, math and technology, but Randall Munroe manages to do so using stick figures"

The Wall Street Journal ((

"Randall Munroe, creator of the popular webcomic xkcd and author of a new book, applies true research to wild ideas"

The Washington Post ((

"I got a kick out of Randall Munroe’s brilliant, offbeat science lessons"

Bill Gates ((

"How Randall Munroe Became the Guru of Absurd Science Questions"

TIME ((

"Randall Munroe has parlayed his physics degree and experience working at NASA on computers and robots into fame as a cartoonist, blogger, and author"

Harvard Gazette ((

"Randall Munroe, of the Web comic xkcd and the science question-and-answer blog What If?, talks about his new book"

The New Yorker ((

"Thing Explainer by Randall Munroe — funny, precise and beautifully designed"

The Guardian ((

Часто задаваемые вопросы об этой странице

Создано выпускниками Колумбийского университета в Сан-Франциско

BeFreed объединяет глобальное сообщество из 1,000,000 любознательных умов

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
platform
comments
201
thumbsUp
16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
star
star
star
star
star
1.5K Ratings4.7
Начните своё обучение прямо сейчас