Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void | Mary Roach
Americas funniest science writer (Washington Post) returns to explore the irresistibly strange universe of life without gravity in this New York Times bestseller. 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 cant 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, its possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. From the space shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASAs 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.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
iread2much
post image
Mehso-so

This book killed the last bit of me that wanted to be an astronaut. The writing is good, but I found the focus on poop to be somewhat boring & irritating and the lack of ethical concern over animal testing to be frustrating. I did learn a lot, which I always enjoy, but I think it makes a lot of sense why one of the books after this was about sewage.
2/5 stars, read if you want to know more about space travel but do NOT read while eating.

dabbe Hi, sweet Castle! 🖤🐾🖤 8mo
iread2much @dabbe hello! 8mo
20 likes2 comments
blurb
rsteve388
post image

@Andrew65 Here are the books I plan to read during this weekend. Gearing up for #Scarathlon #TeamMonsterMash

quote
Sharpeipup
post image

“the act of vomiting deserves your respect. It's an orchestral event of the gut.” 🤮
#quotes

29 likes1 stack add
review
zurazureen
Mehso-so

Witty and insightful story about space explorations throughout the years

2 likes1 stack add
blurb
literateBee

Read this to understand why the Earth is the only home humans will ever have.

review
Smarkies
post image
Pickpick

A whole lot of interesting facts about space travel. My final takeaway from this book - I do not think I will be taking up any offers for space travel.
I do however salute the astronauts who put themselves through all the inconveniences and challenges to explore this frontier.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I loved this one. 🚀 3y
20 likes1 comment
review
TieDyeDude
post image
Mehso-so

I appreciated the research and subject matter, but I found a lot of the humor uninspired, as though she thought she couldn't talk about sex or pooping in space without making jokes. Don't get me wrong, she is a good writer and funny at time, but it also felt forced sometimes. A lot has happened in the past 12 years, but even if the questions she poses have been answered, there is enough historical content that it still makes for an engaging read.

review
Court7
Pickpick

:)

review
Jadams89
post image
Pickpick

This was another #NewYearWhoDis . I love Mary Roach - her humor mixed with the fascinating science is true art. From how to keep astronauts safe on take off to the complexities of pooping in space, I‘m here for it!

#BookspinBingo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
monalyisha ME. TOO. 3y
Bookish_AF Pooping in space is so much more complex than I thought 😂 3y
41 likes3 comments
review
Kboltz
post image
Pickpick

I always tell my students when people go to Mars I‘m not going. Why? I‘m not going until they get the toilet situation and the food situation at a point where it‘s worth it! Is it worth it to go to Mars? The last paragraph in this book says it all..yes, let‘s go outside and play! Loved this book

Reagan I love Mary Roach but I‘ve never read this one. Stacked! 4y
Kboltz @Reagan I think it‘s my favorite one of hers so far. 4y
Texreader It definitely had some LoL moments!! 4y
11 likes3 comments
blurb
BookmarkTavern
post image

In honor of Perseverance launching for its seven month trip to Mars! 🚀

1. The Martian by Andy Weir
2. I‘ve really enjoyed all of Roach‘s books that I‘ve read, and this one‘s been on my TBR for a while now!
3. HD 188753, a planet in a triple star system! ☀️☀️☀️

#sundayfunday Have an out of this world day, and don‘t forget to tag me!

49 likes1 stack add
review
Skygoddess1
post image
Pickpick

The creation and evolution of the space program has always been interesting to me. This was a good and interesting look at the origins of the space program and where we stand now with entertaining and humorous stories from astronauts. #AuthorAMonth #AAMMR

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I loved this book when I first read it! 4y
18 likes1 comment
blurb
Susanita
post image

Lots of “I never thought about that” information presented in a light hearted and accessible style. #authoramonth

quote
Susanita

Gravitation is the lust of the cosmos.

review
Amiable
post image
Pickpick

Between a “pick” and a “so-so” for me (I rounded up). Mary Roach is an amusing writer—several chapters made me LOL, particularly the one about pooping in space. (Favorite aside: when talking about the astronauts having to deal with a floating turd that suddenly made an appearance: “Howdy, doody!” 😄) Completed for July‘s #authoramonth @Soubhiville

Texreader My fave line too. I just burst out laughing and couldn‘t contain my giggles for the rest of that chapter! 4y
Amiable @Texreader I felt like a 10-year-old boy with all the snorting and snickering I was doing in that chapter! 😄 4y
Texreader @Amiable that aptly describes my reaction too 4y
58 likes3 comments
review
Texreader
post image
Pickpick

Whew, this was an informative, funny, and embarrassing read! I liked most parts but found some parts too science-y. I still don‘t understand gravity--it sailed right over my head. But I sure know now a lot about human waste & other bodily functions in space! I liked it, but didn‘t love it. I don‘t see myself reading anymore of her books that just don‘t pass the ick factor for me. Glad I read it for #authoramonth though. Worth the challenge!

Soubhiville I‘ve enjoyed your posts about this! Mary Roach is really a one of a kind author. 4y
BethM Oh this sounds fun! 4y
79 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image

Fortunately I have a very childish sense of humor and I‘m dying laughing at the ways she describes things in this chapter. But my husband had to leave the room; I was also very embarrassed.

“Howdy, doody” takes on a whole new meaning. 😊🤣

GingerAntics 🤣😂🤣 4y
Texreader @GingerAntics Seriously, that quote is straight from the book, the section on “escapees.” Yes, imagine that. 🤣🤣🤣 4y
GingerAntics Ooooh, I just saw it was Mary Roach!!! I do love her!!! I‘ve heard so many good things about her books, especially Stiff and Bonk. 4y
Cathythoughts I love the title of this chapter , missing Mother Earth ❤️ 4y
Cathythoughts Oh 😳I see the other meanings .. I have a childish sense of humour too 😬🙃🤣 (edited) 4y
52 likes1 stack add5 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image

#thoughtfulthursday

🇳🇴 My Norwegian headband I bought when we were there last but not cold enough yet to wear in south Texas

🌵 Two: the Chihuahuan Desert in west Texas, the Sonoran Desert in California

🚀 Tagged. It‘s good

Thanks for tags @Crazeedi and @MoonWitch94

I‘ve had a pretty awful week so I‘m late but my cat‘s still alive after her close call and I learned today I tested negative for COVID-19. So here I am!

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Hooray for a negative result! 💛 4y
Crazeedi So glad to hear kitty is with you!!! And yay for negative!! 4y
42 likes2 comments
quote
Texreader
post image

An “interesting” discussion about vibrating machines having no exercise value. More importantly, it‘s the first time I‘ve seen “indeedy” in print. Finally someone who gets my vocabulary.

Crinoline_Laphroaig Yes indeedy! 😆 4y
keys_on_fire This made me think of Trey from Sex and the City with his catchphrase: Alrighty then! 😂😂 4y
Texreader @keys_on_fire Yep! That one is me too! 4y
Texreader @Crinoline_Laphroaig 🤣🤣 it‘s a great word 4y
52 likes4 comments
blurb
Bookish_AF
post image

I was waiting for the motion sickness chapter! I love space but I knew I was never destined to be an astronaut for this very reason 😬

Just reading about parabolic flights and the “human disorientation device” gave me anxiety! Nope nope nope.

Bklover 🥴🤢 4y
Texreader Same!! 4y
Bookish_AF @Texreader so funny that you also just posted about this exact chapter 😅 I have gotten more and more prone to motion sickness as I get older, ugh!! I never leave the house without Dramamine, just in case. If I was on that flight she went on in the book, I would be that poor kid who was sick the whole time. 4y
Texreader @Bookish_AF It‘s just the worst isn‘t it? I was that person on my first plane trip. Everyone was passing me their “bags.” To this day I make sure my pocket has a bag available although I‘ve not needed one again thanks to Dramamine. But sometimes it‘s been close! 4y
30 likes4 comments
blurb
Conservio
post image
14 likes1 stack add
blurb
Conservio
post image
blurb
Texreader
post image

I‘m highly susceptible to motion sickness and have been violently sick on trains, planes, boats, and automobiles. So I was hoping NASA would give me some tips in this chapter. All I managed to learn was that even astronauts get violently ill with motion sickness, and probably even worse than me and there‘s no cure as of yet!

Smarkies I would like to learn their tips too! I travel constantly with motion sickness tablets... 😞 4y
Texreader @Smarkies Me too! Or the ear patches for long trips. It‘s awful and I‘m so jealous of people who can read when they travel 4y
Smarkies @Texreader I bring a whole lot of audiobooks but the tablets knock me out for the majority of the trip! 🤣 4y
Texreader @Smarkies Same! The audiobooks just lull us to sleep when on those pills! 4y
66 likes4 comments
review
Megabooks
post image
Pickpick

This wasn‘t my favorite Mary Roach, but I enjoyed the last chapters when she started talking about veterinarians and food. As a vet who would‘ve gone into food science otherwise, I like to think I would‘ve done a better job than the 1960s Air Force vets. Just sayin.

I also found the chapters on sex in space...interesting.

But before that, there was a general history of the space program than I didn‘t care for. 3.5⭐️

#authoramonth #bookspinbingo

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! You're flying through your board!! 4y
Megabooks @TheAromaofBooks thanks!! I love a challenge! 4y
TheAromaofBooks I'm thinking about keeping the bingo board as part of the regular BookSpin challenge. I like the way that people can still mood read & can also do as much or little as they want & still be a part of the challenge. 4y
See All 11 Comments
Megabooks @TheAromaofBooks I‘d enjoy that!! I‘d do the card the months I had time and just do the bookspin/doublespin when I didn‘t. 👍🏻👍🏻 4y
Eggs Congratulations 🎊🎈🎉 4y
Megabooks @Eggs thanks! 4y
KVanRead I like Mary Roach quite a lot - curious to which is your favorite. (edited) 4y
Megabooks @KVanRead I‘ve read Gulp, Grunt, and Mars, and Grunt is my favorite. I‘m not interested in Spook‘s or Stiff‘s subject matter, but I may read Bonk at some point! 4y
Megabooks @KVanRead what about you? Which is your favorite?? 4y
KVanRead @megabooks Ooh! Haven‘t read Grunt yet!! Moving it up the list. I loved Gulp - read it right after getting my Gall bladder out and found it fascinating and relevant, lol. I actually found Stiff the most fascinating so far - guess maybe I‘m a little morbid?😂 4y
Megabooks @KVanRead most people I‘ve talked to say Stiff is her best, but I still don‘t want to read it! 😂😂 4y
92 likes1 stack add11 comments
quote
Texreader
post image

I appreciate the author‘s humor. I, too, would have liked the Reduced Gravity Office to be “devoted to the taking of absolutely nothing seriously.”

Soubhiville 🤣😂🤣 4y
60 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Conservio
post image

Doing some #outsidereading with my dog and bearded dragon. Unfortunately I haven‘t been able to take my lizards out as much as usual, thanks to an energetic dog and a baby.

Reading this for a #bookclub I am that focuses on #womensciencewriters

13 likes1 stack add
blurb
Texreader
post image

This chapter really felt like it was describing what many of us around the world have felt in lockdown mode.

66 likes1 stack add
quote
Texreader
post image

When a female Canadian astronaut was in an isolation experiment, a Russian crew member grabbed her and French kissed her outside camera range. This sexism has me boiling mad. 😡

GingerAntics What the 🤬?! 4y
56 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Eggs
post image
Pickpick

There is nothing dry or boring about this topic when it‘s in the expert words of Mary Roach. She has the best questions and know how to get the answers! So much great info especially the lengthy and detailed simulations required for space travel. Plus it‘s witty, as is her style 😂

#authoramonth2020 @Soubhiville
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Soubhiville I‘m so glad you‘re liking Mary Roach so much! 4y
Eggs @Soubhiville Thanks!! 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
Eggs Thanks Sarah 😍 @TheAromaofBooks 4y
83 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image

Picked up my new book from Jenny Lawson‘s Nowhere Bookstore this afternoon. This one‘s for #authoramonth for July. I‘d never read this otherwise so #blameitonlitsy. Looking forward to it.

Soubhiville Yay! Was what you could see of the store from outside amazing? I cannot wait to come see it. 4y
Texreader Very very hard to see but it is stocked with books now. I could see shelves with books. Based on the descriptions it should be awesome. Just hoping it can afford to stay in business until it can open up. Other bookstores are open so it seems they have chosen to stay closed and only do shipping and curbside in an abundance of caution. I don‘t blame them. We had a record jump in cases today alone, over 1200! How‘s Austin doing? 4y
veritysalter I love Mary Roach, so much fascinating information told in such a humorous way. I started with ‘Stiff‘ and then quickly read them all. 4y
68 likes3 comments
blurb
Texreader
post image

Just ordered the tagged book for July‘s #authoramonth for curbside pickup at Jenny Lawson‘s Nowhere Bookshop. It‘s still not open but she‘s selling books so I‘m ready to support her. Very excited husband thought of this option rather than Amazon.

vicgreentoriafield Her shop looks so cute 4y
Soubhiville That‘s awesome. I wish I lived a bit closer so I could do the same. 4y
49 likes2 comments
blurb
Jemmygem
post image

So great to be able to read a great book and enjoy the lake too.

BookmarkTavern What a peaceful reading spot! ❤️ 4y
plemmdog ❤️Mary Roach 4y
60 likes3 stack adds2 comments
review
UnRuLee
post image
Pickpick

Mary Roach has been on my authors-to-try list for ages now, and I‘m delighted to have started with Packing for Mars. Not only was this fascinating and hilarious for me, but I know now what to get my scientifically-inclined grandfather for Christmas. He‘ll adore this book.

blurb
Jemmygem
post image

#lmpbc #round7 #groupx #teamcanada @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @BookishTrish @StayCurious @michellelav looking forward to my last read. Have loved this adventure with you girls. Much love

48 likes1 stack add
review
michellelav
post image
Pickpick

This is now my second Mary Roach book and I love her! She has the wittiest sense of humor and I can't get enough. 💛 I read this book for #LMPBC and i really enjoyed this pick! So many fun facts about space that I never would have thought of. 🌍 I read this book while listening to the audiobook and even my partner was hooked! Next up, spook by Mary Roach 😁

 @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @BookishTrish @StayCurious @Jemmygem

CaitlinSiem I‘m gonna have to check her out! 4y
michellelav @CaitlinSiem I highly recommend 😍 4y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I was just thinking about this book, and couldn't remember who had it. Lol. Glad you enjoyed it. My BF enjoyed it also, and he's not a big reader. 4y
michellelav @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Mines not a big reader either, he's read one series and the book the series was based on but he was so invested! I'm so happy I got to read it with all you ladies too! So fun 💖 Sorry for the delay 😅 @Jemmygem has it now then its heading back to you! 4y
69 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
hefau
This post contains spoilers
show me
Panpan

This was a painful read that I wanted to cover in red ink and mail to Roach‘s editor. I think my fairest complaint is her lack of flow inside paragraphs and between them, which change tenses in thoughtless ways. It feels like an attempt at flow of conscious writing but comes off to me as poorly organized. She would often use this to end talking about a topic that had been barely introduced. It felt forced with tons of sad filler in many ways

blurb
madams421
post image

#BookSpin List for June!

Hopefully the book choice can overlap with the #ReadYourSign challenge :) I‘m really excited for all of these!

Looking forward to seeing everybody else‘s lists too. Just signed up for my library‘s summer reading challenge, started a #bookstagram (@everydayhonestiesreads) and kept working on a few books. Feeling productive but also wanting to stay in bed all day. Anyone else?

💜💜💜

Eggs Loved 3 and 14 4y
TheAromaofBooks You have some fabulous choices!!! 4y
madams421 @TheAromaofBooks So excited! Counting down to June :) 4y
UwannaPublishme Great list! 4y
36 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
Clare-Dragonfly
post image
Pickpick

Ouch, Mary Roach. 😬

I enjoyed this book a lot! Lots of fun, very funny, though sometimes cringe-worthy. I did feel that the title was a bit misleading; we‘re nowhere near as close to going to Mars as the title implies.

Also, the bibliography and footnotes faked me out. I thought I had a lot more book to go. I forgot how Kindle books with footnotes always seem longer than they are! 😆

quote
Clare-Dragonfly
post image

Zero gravity causes fairly significant loss of bone density. Black women, on average, have higher bone density than white and Asian women, so Mary Roach wonders whether NASA “ought to consider an all-black crew for Mars.” Seems like a good idea to me.

quote
Clare-Dragonfly
post image

“NASCAR seats are fitted to each driver, but that‘s too expensive to do for each astronaut.”

I know there must be far more astronauts than NASCAR drivers, but I still feel this says unpleasant things about our priorities as a country 🤦🏻‍♀️

Andrew65 This is crazy! 4y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Holy Cow! That‘s crazy!!! And yes, says way to much about our priorities and where we spend money. 4y
30 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
hike.read.repeat
post image
Pickpick

Like Mary Roach‘s other books, this was funny and informative. She goes through different challenges in long term space travel like diet, waste elimination, and sex. Would recommend to anyone, even if you‘re not into science. I think I‘ve read all her books now! #libby

readordierachel I liked this one too! 4y
27 likes2 comments
blurb
hike.read.repeat
post image

I‘m proud and excited to announce that we finished the 3005.3 km hike today! In total I read or listened to 52 books over 128 days. We have three days of nothing to do in Airbnbs followed by two days of travel back home to Texas so I hope to get a few more books read or listened to. Especially the tagged book which I‘ve been slowly chipping away at for weeks now.

Mitch Wow ! Congratulations sounds like a mega adventure 👏🏼👏🏼 4y
TrishB Well done 👍🏻 4y
Bookwormjillk Congrats 🍾🎉🎈 4y
See All 11 Comments
MommyWantsToReadHerBook Wow! Impressive! 4y
megnews Congratulations!! 4y
CarolynM Congratulations! Looks like you had a beautiful day for completing the trail. Enjoy your days of rest. 4y
julesG Congratulations! That's very impressive! 4y
effani Congratulations! That's amazing! 4y
valeriegeary Whoo hoo!!! 🙌🏻💪🏻 4y
BarbaraBB I only read this now. Congratulations, what an achievement. And you made it just in time before the world got really crazy. 💚🍀 4y
hike.read.repeat @BarbaraBB thanks yeah, we finished on the 14th. At that time NZ was still quite normal but less than 10 days later they went on full lockdown for four weeks. We had a bit of trouble getting home with a canceled flight but we made it! 🙏🏽 4y
35 likes11 comments
blurb
BookishTrish
post image

Another day starting right. Hard to believe it‘s back to reality (and work) tomorrow. #LMPBC #groupX

Lindy My favourite of all of Mary Roach‘s books. 😊 4y
77 likes1 comment
blurb
erzascarletbookgasm
post image

I haven‘t read this but synopsis says Roach explains the mechanics and preparation behind all sorts of space activities in this book.
Anyway, the astronaut is holding a case and he‘s in space.😁

#NamasteNovember #spacecase

(Image from google)

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Just read this and it's so good! 4y
batsy Clever! She's an author I've been meaning to read. 4y
Eggs Excellent interpretation 🤗🤗 4y
Kalalalatja I haven‘t read any Roach, but her books sound fascinating! 4y
readordierachel This was a super fascinating read. It confirmed for me that I could never be an astronaut 😆 4y
68 likes4 stack adds5 comments
review
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
post image
Pickpick

This book was sensational! So fascinating, hilarious, and informative. This might be my favourite read of the year so far! I liked it even better than her book Stiff. I can't wait for my #lmpbc #GroupX #Round7 to read it. 👩‍🚀🚀

@BookishTrish @StayCurious @Jemmygem @michellelav

michellelav I am so excited to read this one!! 4y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @michellelav I hope I didn't oversell it, but I really enjoyed it. 😊 4y
michellelav @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego This one and stiff have been on my TBR list for so long that I'm just thankful I finally get to read it!!! 4y
Jemmygem Looking forward to it 4y
83 likes5 stack adds4 comments
blurb
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
post image

Wasn't sure what we were doing so I picked my book already. I kinda wanted to read this last round, but picked another book. Hopefully no one minds this one. 😁 #LMPBC #GroupX #TeamCanada #Round7

@Jemmygem @michellelav @BookishTrish @StayCurious

BookishTrish Oh I‘m excited for this one! 4y
michellelav Ouuuu thats exciting!! 4y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @BookishTrish @michellelav Oh good, you guys are interested. 😊 Also, I'm gunna use a pink coloured pen! 💖 4y
See All 8 Comments
michellelav @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @BookishTrish @StayCurious I have an orange pen I can use 😊 unless someone wants orange! I have a few colour options 😁 4y
BookishTrish I‘m a purple gal if that works? 4y
StayCurious I‘ll be green if that‘s ok 4y
Jemmygem Hi group sorry was in Cuba. I have used orange already sorry I should have checked. 4y
michellelav @Jemmygem ill use another colour :) 4y
71 likes1 stack add8 comments
review
mklong
post image
Pickpick

Roach brings her inimitable informative irreverence into outer space this time. More specifically, to the details, and often indignities, of humans in space. Ever wondered if astronauts get motion sick, have sex in space, or are ever jealous of monkeys? Mary Roach did, and found some very serious people to answer her questions. Her questions are often hilarious, but they are never irrelevant.

Crazeedi Shes hilarious 5y
59 likes4 stack adds1 comment
review
LibraryCin
post image
Pickpick

It was interesting to read about how they made the flag “fly” (with no gravity!) on the moon, and also how to even pack it to bring with them, with the limited space available. There was one real transcript of three astronauts having a discussion when one of them noticed a “turd” flying in the air – omg, I couldn‘t stop laughing and crying reading that transcript! Kept me from continuing to read for at least 5 minutes, if not more!!

5 likes1 stack add
blurb
Apinlibraryland
post image

My friend, a librarian at New York Public Library, gave me this Summer Reading map. SO FUN!

Reviewsbylola Our summer reading is space themed too! 5y
18 likes1 comment
blurb
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
post image

Hello Friends #LMPBC #Round6 #GroupX #TeamCanada
Here are some options for my pick. Let me know if any piques your interest, or if you've already read one. @FantasyChick @BookishTrish @StayCurious @Andrea4

See All 15 Comments
ShelleyBooksie Darn - I didn't even see the sign up for this round! 5y
StayCurious I‘ve heard good things about ESPW. 5y
Andrea4 ESPW would be first pick and then Lion. 5y
FantasyChick What she said ☝️☝️ 5y
Andrea4 @FantasyChick 🤣🤣😘 5y
Teresereading Lion is great, much more detail than the movie. And its based in Tasmania! 5y
BookishTrish They all sound good, but my first choice would be ESPW 5y
FantasyChick Sounds good! 5y
umbrellagirl I‘m not in your group but Punjabi Widows was excellent. 5y
77 likes2 stack adds15 comments