Title: Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal
Author: Mary Roach
First published January 4, 2013
348 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780393081572 (ISBN10: 0393081575)
Rating: 3.93
Overview
If you’re ready for an adventure, join Mary Roach as she takes you on a wild ride through the alimentary canal in her latest book, Gulp. In classic Roach style, she explores the taboo questions that no one else dares to ask.
Why do we crave crunchy food? How much can we eat before our stomachs burst?
Can constipation actually be fatal? Roach introduces us to a cast of characters, from scientists to murderers and exorcists, who help her find the answers to these questions.
We’ll go on a tour of a pet-food taste-test lab and even observe the fate of a meal inside a live stomach. With Roach as our guide, we’ll travel the world and discover the strange and surreal universe that exists within us all.
Gulp is not just a book about the human body, but a fascinating exploration of the human experience.
About the Author
Mary Roach is a fascinating science author who delves into the unusual and unexpected. She has written on a wide range of subjects, from the intriguing history of human cadavers to the science of human anatomy in the context of warfare.
Mary has authored several New York Times bestsellers, such as STIFF: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers; GULP: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal; PACKING FOR MARS: The Curious Science of Life in the Void; BONK: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex; and GRUNT: The Curious Science of Humans at War.
In addition to her books, Mary has contributed to publications such as National Geographic, Wired, Discover, New Scientist, the Journal of Clinical Anatomy, and Outside. She also serves on the Mars Institute’s Advisory Board and the Usage Panel of American Heritage Dictionary.
Her 2009 TED talk was one of the most-watched talks to date, and she was a guest editor for the 2011 Best American Science and Nature Writing. Mary is a finalist for the 2014 Royal Society Winton Prize and a winner of the American Engineering Societies’ Engineering Journalism Award, a category in which she was the sole entrant.
Editoral Review
Mary Roach, best known for her humorous and informative writing style in the science genre, takes on the digestive system in her 2013 book Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal. With her signature wit and extensive research, Roach explores the journey of food and drinks through the human body from start to finish.
Roach begins her book with a look at the sense of smell and how it affects our appetite, leading into the anatomy of the mouth and the act of chewing. She then moves on to the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine, and concludes with the large intestine and colon.
Throughout the book, Roach intersperses anecdotes, scientific studies, and interviews with experts in the field, adding depth and humor to her prose. She dives into topics such as the history of competitive eating, the effects of stress on the digestive system, and the strange world of fecal transplants.
One of the strengths of Gulp is Roach’s ability to take complex scientific concepts and make them accessible and entertaining for the general reader. She uses humor and relatable anecdotes to help readers connect with the material, making it more memorable and easier to understand.
Roach’s writing style is engaging and humorous, making Gulp an enjoyable read. However, some may find the book to be too focused on the quirky and gross elements of the digestive system, rather than providing a comprehensive overview of the topic.
Overall, Gulp is a fascinating and informative look at the alimentary canal that will leave readers with a newfound appreciation for their digestive system. It is a must-read for fans of popular science writing and anyone interested in the strange and wonderful workings of the human body.
Rating: 4/5 stars. While the book is enjoyable and informative, it may not provide a complete overview of the subject matter for some readers.
