Roach's writing style takes the minutae of space travel and makes it fascinating. She actually travels around the globe to interview people who play or have played important roles in various countries' space programmes, giving many a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the science, the politics, and the bureaucracy that goes into these endeavours.
A compelling, entertaining, and informative read.
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Delivery rates and Return policy Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void Hardcover – Illustrated, 2 August 2010
by
Mary Roach
(Author)
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Space is a world devoid of the things we need to live and thrive: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh produce, privacy, beer. Space exploration is in some ways an exploration of what it means to be human. How much can a person give up? How much weirdness can they take? What happens to you when you can't walk for a year? have sex? smell flowers? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk? Is it possible for the human body to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles per hour? To answer these questions, space agencies set up all manner of quizzical and startlingly bizarre space simulations. As Mary Roach discovers, it's possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. From the space shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA's new space capsule (cadaver filling in for astronaut), Roach takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.
- Print length336 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication date2 August 2010
- ISBN-100393068471
- ISBN-13978-0393068474
- Lexile measure1070L
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Product description
Review
[Her] style is at its most substantial--and most hilarious--in the zero-gravity realm that Packing for Mars explores.... As startling as it is funny.--Janet Maslin "The New York Times"
A delightful, illuminating grab bag of space-flight curiosities.-- "Kirkus Reviews"
An impish and adventurous writer with a gleefully inquisitive mind and stand-up comic's timing.-- "Booklist"
An utterly fascinating account, made all the more entertaining by the author's ever-amused tone.-- "BookPage"
Cool answers to questions about the void you didn't even know you had.-- "People"
Hilarious.-- "The New York Times Book Review"
This is the kind of smart, smirky stuff that Roach does so well.--Geoff Nicholson "San Francisco Chronicle"
The author's writing comes across as reportorial, but with a clear sense of humor; even the footnotes are used to both informational and comedic effect.--Time Out New York
A delightful, illuminating grab bag of space-flight curiosities.-- "Kirkus Reviews"
An impish and adventurous writer with a gleefully inquisitive mind and stand-up comic's timing.-- "Booklist"
An utterly fascinating account, made all the more entertaining by the author's ever-amused tone.-- "BookPage"
Cool answers to questions about the void you didn't even know you had.-- "People"
Hilarious.-- "The New York Times Book Review"
This is the kind of smart, smirky stuff that Roach does so well.--Geoff Nicholson "San Francisco Chronicle"
The author's writing comes across as reportorial, but with a clear sense of humor; even the footnotes are used to both informational and comedic effect.--Time Out New York
About the Author
Mary Roach is the author of five best-selling works of nonfiction, including Grunt, Stiff, and, most recently, Fuzz. Her writing has appeared in National Geographic and the New York Times Magazine, among other publications. She lives in Oakland, California.
Product details
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0393068471
- ISBN-13 : 978-0393068474
- Customer reviews:
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Top reviews from other countries
Rev. Dr. Jude Arnold
4.0 out of 5 stars
I need at least 2 more books from Mary Roach!
Reviewed in the United States on 9 October 2010Verified Purchase
Dear Mary Roach,
I'm a huge fan and have read all your books!
In every one, I am so surprised by your discoveries!
I'm enjoying Mars and am finding it very interesting and funny!
However, and respectfully I ask you to write another entire book on the stuff you did not address - Is there life in space?!? What about the Summarian Tablets? What about Planet X?
And I would love to read your take in a 6th book, on our current political situation! I worked tirelessly for the Public Option and feel I failed. What do you think of George Carlin on the American Dream (posted on my profile)? What do you think of 911 being an inside job? What do you think of Alex Jones work? The Bildebergers? Is Obama Skull and Bones like Hillary, Bill and the Bushes? Thanks! Big Hug!
I'm still reading this book. Given that I wish she'd written about the real outer space rather than the ridiculous experiments NASA's been conducting for the last 50 years; I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's so totally Mary Roach! My favorite part so far was about BO. As a natural health doctor, I found it very interesting to learn, about the bacteria count of sweat in various parts of the body. Our feet, armpits and ass, definitely have more germs, hence odor!
The Discovery/Earth series had a show about sex in space. I of course thought it would be a little more cosmic, like planets and galaxies co-creating.... but it was about a woman scientist who had invented a spacesuit that would hook up to your lover's space suit, so you could have sex at zero G. Mary Roach is her usual, awesome, hilarious self in her chapter about astronauts having sex in space. Just delightful, including several laugh out loud moments!
Here are my final comments as I finish Packing for Mars.
I love Mary Roach and every one of her books, this being my least favorite so far.
I maintain that I would have liked this one better if it was more far out.
We just rewatched "Armageddon" with Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler. It reminded me so much of Packing for Mars. They must have spent a lot of money on the movie with all the space simulations. For me the movie was kind of dumb and over dramatic. So was Mary Roach's 4th book.
I'm a huge fan and have read all your books!
In every one, I am so surprised by your discoveries!
I'm enjoying Mars and am finding it very interesting and funny!
However, and respectfully I ask you to write another entire book on the stuff you did not address - Is there life in space?!? What about the Summarian Tablets? What about Planet X?
And I would love to read your take in a 6th book, on our current political situation! I worked tirelessly for the Public Option and feel I failed. What do you think of George Carlin on the American Dream (posted on my profile)? What do you think of 911 being an inside job? What do you think of Alex Jones work? The Bildebergers? Is Obama Skull and Bones like Hillary, Bill and the Bushes? Thanks! Big Hug!
I'm still reading this book. Given that I wish she'd written about the real outer space rather than the ridiculous experiments NASA's been conducting for the last 50 years; I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's so totally Mary Roach! My favorite part so far was about BO. As a natural health doctor, I found it very interesting to learn, about the bacteria count of sweat in various parts of the body. Our feet, armpits and ass, definitely have more germs, hence odor!
The Discovery/Earth series had a show about sex in space. I of course thought it would be a little more cosmic, like planets and galaxies co-creating.... but it was about a woman scientist who had invented a spacesuit that would hook up to your lover's space suit, so you could have sex at zero G. Mary Roach is her usual, awesome, hilarious self in her chapter about astronauts having sex in space. Just delightful, including several laugh out loud moments!
Here are my final comments as I finish Packing for Mars.
I love Mary Roach and every one of her books, this being my least favorite so far.
I maintain that I would have liked this one better if it was more far out.
We just rewatched "Armageddon" with Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler. It reminded me so much of Packing for Mars. They must have spent a lot of money on the movie with all the space simulations. For me the movie was kind of dumb and over dramatic. So was Mary Roach's 4th book.
James S. MacLachlan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow! Super introduction to the complexities of space!
Reviewed in the United States on 8 February 2011Verified Purchase
Wow! An excellent piece of very readable research of our journey into space & all the considerations for a trip to Mars in, hopefully, 2030. As usual, Roach captured the human side & presented it with plenty of humor.
The research had to be difficult for her in many cases. NASA needs publicity to stay funded, but any negative publicity can hurt them immensely, especially since Congress & the VP oversee them. (LBJ basically squashed any females in space for years with a pen stroke.) Considering how divisive our attitudes are on so many subjects, especially taboo ones, it's no wonder that NASA regulates what information goes out with an iron hand. For instance, they once spent a lot of time & money in an effort to give the astronauts a night cap - just a bit of sherry to finish off the day. It all went to waste because news leaked out & a letter writing campaign by a bunch of teetotalers caused too much negative publicity.
There are many taboo subjects that come up in relation to space flight & living in zero gee. Two biggies are sex & elimination. As Roach showed so well in her previous book, Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, amazingly little is known about sex. NASA, the organization that can write entire books about the seemingly simplest things, ignores the subject. Unfortunately, it's a negative sum game for them. Any research they do into it will cause waves they can't afford. Still, she managed to pry a bit of info out of some, but not much.
Elimination took up several chapters & it's not because she's hung up on it, but because it is such a necessary, time consuming & messy business. It's also tied closely to what is eaten & what can be eaten on a long trip when every ounce has to be closely watched & personal odors have a huge impact on morale. It's an amazingly complex feat to deal with a simple stool. At one time, they actually used cameras to record the process & then destroyed the films to avoid bad publicity. Now researchers could really use that data again.
How strange & complex the simplest thing becomes when under intense public scrutiny & done without gravity! A lot of what we think we know turns out to be wrong. Even the urge to pee isn't present in zero gee until the bursting point - literally a point at which the urethra could be constricted by the bladder, so urination has to be scheduled to avoid problems.
There are more exhaustive books on the subject & many of them are in her bibliography, but I doubt there is a more readable introduction to the complexity of what faces NASA as they prepare for the Mars mission, a culmination of every space effort to date. She did a great job & I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
The research had to be difficult for her in many cases. NASA needs publicity to stay funded, but any negative publicity can hurt them immensely, especially since Congress & the VP oversee them. (LBJ basically squashed any females in space for years with a pen stroke.) Considering how divisive our attitudes are on so many subjects, especially taboo ones, it's no wonder that NASA regulates what information goes out with an iron hand. For instance, they once spent a lot of time & money in an effort to give the astronauts a night cap - just a bit of sherry to finish off the day. It all went to waste because news leaked out & a letter writing campaign by a bunch of teetotalers caused too much negative publicity.
There are many taboo subjects that come up in relation to space flight & living in zero gee. Two biggies are sex & elimination. As Roach showed so well in her previous book, Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, amazingly little is known about sex. NASA, the organization that can write entire books about the seemingly simplest things, ignores the subject. Unfortunately, it's a negative sum game for them. Any research they do into it will cause waves they can't afford. Still, she managed to pry a bit of info out of some, but not much.
Elimination took up several chapters & it's not because she's hung up on it, but because it is such a necessary, time consuming & messy business. It's also tied closely to what is eaten & what can be eaten on a long trip when every ounce has to be closely watched & personal odors have a huge impact on morale. It's an amazingly complex feat to deal with a simple stool. At one time, they actually used cameras to record the process & then destroyed the films to avoid bad publicity. Now researchers could really use that data again.
How strange & complex the simplest thing becomes when under intense public scrutiny & done without gravity! A lot of what we think we know turns out to be wrong. Even the urge to pee isn't present in zero gee until the bursting point - literally a point at which the urethra could be constricted by the bladder, so urination has to be scheduled to avoid problems.
There are more exhaustive books on the subject & many of them are in her bibliography, but I doubt there is a more readable introduction to the complexity of what faces NASA as they prepare for the Mars mission, a culmination of every space effort to date. She did a great job & I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
Jan Wolter
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but title's a bit misleading
Reviewed in the United States on 23 August 2010Verified Purchase
If you are a geek looking for a careful analysis of the challenges and possible solutions for keeping humans alive and well in space long enough to visit another planet, then you are going to be a bit disappointed in this book. If you are looking for a hilarious joy ride through the subject, with a special focus on anything NASA is too squeamish to say much about (poop, pee, farts, barf, corpses, sex) then this book is your ticket. It's also much more focused on past space missions, and the ground-based testing that preceded them, then on possible future ones. Mars is mostly just the excuse for digging up and reconsidering this stuff. There is, for example, a lot of discussion of the monkeys and dogs launched into space (including their rumored sexual proclivities) which, satisfying as it may be to ones yen for the weird, can't actually be said to have much to do with "Packing for Mars." However, the book is great fun, and a useful correction to the over-sanitized view of the challenges of space exploration that one usually hears. As for a Mars ship, it really left me thinking that you need to spin the thing for gravity. The engineering challenges that that presents have to be child's play compared to the biomedical challenges of living long term in zero gravity.
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