Have you ever considered the practicalities of building a swimming pool out of cheese? Or wondered what it would take to surround your house with a lava moat? Even if you have never thought about these outlandish questions, Randall Munroe has the answers in his new book How to: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems.

But is the book really as ridiculous as it sounds? And how does it compare with Munroe’s previous books, What if? and Thing Explainer? To find out, listen to this month’s book club podcast. We will give you our honest opinion, read an excerpt from the book, and speak to Munroe about impractical advice and the strangest scientific studies.

You can also read the full review here.

If you, dear Chemistry World reader, have any thoughts on How to or know of a book you would like us to discuss in an upcoming edition of our book club podcast, let us know in the comments below or tweet at us @ChemistryWorld.