The Professor's Book of Whimsy

‘It’s funny because it’s true.’

This is partially correct, but we are also attracted by fantastic and bizarre stories that are obviously fictional.

The Professor’s Book of Whimsy is a collection of over 100 amusing anecdotes, jokes, hoaxes and puzzles, taken mostly from the world of science and academia. As the title suggests, the contents epitomise a more gentle and reflective style of humour than encountered in many joke compilations.

The book is organised into 12 sections: Introduction; Wonders of Science; Wit and Wisdom; Questions and Answers; Animal Magic; The Academic World; Limericks; Reflections of the Good and Great; Meanwhile, down at the Pub; April Fool; Medical Matters; and People and Politics. In Wonders of Science, we learn that Professor Stephen Hawking once threw a champagne party for time travellers. He didn’t send out the invitations until after the party had taken place. If people had shown up, he hypothesised, it would be proof that time travel is possible. Since nobody came, time travel is not real - probably. A menagerie of eccentric creatures appears in Animal Magic: snakes with spectacles; talking dogs; and infuriating parrots. Wallace, the child-eating lion, who is the subject of Marriott Edgar’s famous poem, looms large. This verse should, of course, be read out loud in a Lancashire accent. In the next chapter, we meet Professor Skimbleshanks, scourge of the academic world; he is undoubtedly a master of mischief. The limericks are focused on those with scientific connections – there’s the sensual Miss Farad (who has to endure a high voltage) and the scholarly vicar of Kew (who attempts to teach the Greek language to his pet cat).

The pub scene, with its welcoming and quick-witted landlord is well established in joke-lore, but unexpected customers include subatomic particles, Schrödinger’s cat and a lot of mathematicians. 

The April Fool’s chapter remembers some of the greatest pranks played by large organisations over the last 60 years. The BBC’s Panorama set the standard in 1957 with its meticulous description of the Swiss spaghetti harvest; arguably this was only surpassed in 1977 with The Guardian’s special report on the idyllic islands that comprise the republic of San Serriffe.  

At the each of each chapter, readers are invited to explore a conundrum, a simple brainteaser, with the answer provided at the end of the book. These puzzles are brief, lighthearted and not too taxing. 

The compilation of humorous tales and yarns found in The Professor’s Book of Whimsyis a personal collection of material, reflecting the scientific background of the author, Michael Petty, a Professor of Engineering. Brenda Nash, an acclaimed artist printmaker, illustrates the book.