This is the third of Roach's books for me, and I still prefer Stiff the most. But having just read Andy Weir's The Martian, it seemed an appropriate follow up.
In Roach's first book, despite her hysterical dark humor about an awkward subject (cadavers), I never felt she crossed a line of disrespect or tastefulness. I can't say that with Packing for Mars. On occasion she seemed more concerned with making her next dick or poop joke than discussing the actual science. At times, I felt it was gratuitous.
But that's a minor quibble in an otherwise enjoyable book about a subject we may well be hearing a lot more about if America (or a joint enterprise) puts a manned-mission to Mars back on the table. I'm with Roach. It would cost roughly what we spent on the Iraq war. Don't even pretend to tell me a Mars expedition would be wasted money after that!
from the publisher: The best-selling author of Stiff and Bonk explores the irresistibly strange universe of space travel and life without gravity. From the Space Shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA's new space capsule, Mary Roach takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.
In Roach's first book, despite her hysterical dark humor about an awkward subject (cadavers), I never felt she crossed a line of disrespect or tastefulness. I can't say that with Packing for Mars. On occasion she seemed more concerned with making her next dick or poop joke than discussing the actual science. At times, I felt it was gratuitous.
But that's a minor quibble in an otherwise enjoyable book about a subject we may well be hearing a lot more about if America (or a joint enterprise) puts a manned-mission to Mars back on the table. I'm with Roach. It would cost roughly what we spent on the Iraq war. Don't even pretend to tell me a Mars expedition would be wasted money after that!
from the publisher: The best-selling author of Stiff and Bonk explores the irresistibly strange universe of space travel and life without gravity. From the Space Shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA's new space capsule, Mary Roach takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.
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