Packing for Mars

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
By Mary Roach
W.W. Norton, 2010. 333 pgs. Nonfiction

Mary Roach has a knack for selecting odd but fascinating topics and her writing style is equally quirky and filled with humor. Her new book Packing for Mars delves into the science and research involved in sending humans into space. She discusses how astronauts are selected and trained, how they keep sane or go insane while in orbit, what happens to their bodies while in a weightless environment, as well as the more private aspects of day to day life in close quarters without the benefits of gravity.

Like her previous books, Stiff and Bonk, Packing for Mars isn't for the squeamish. Chapters covering motion sickness, space food, and the biological results of eating space food certainly take the glamour out of space travel. While a little graphic and bordering on potty humor, these chapters also remind readers that pace engineers, cosmonauts, and scientists are entirely human. They are just regular people but have chosen to dedicate their lives to reaching beyond our natural realm. Completely entertaining and intriguing scientific writing.

CZ