Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach explores some of the issues not many of us think about when imagining a space mission. Ms. Roach, an award winning author, is known for her books which combine science and journalism.
My rating for Packing for Mars– 5
Buy Packing for Mars from Amazon.com*
More books by Mary Roach*
More books narrated by Sandra Burr*
I’ve previously enjoyed books (well, one book) by the author and have been looking forward to reading another one. As a fan of all things space, I immediately go the audiobook when I found out Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach existed.
The author doesn’t write about heroics or the fantastical elements of the space programs which grab headlines across the world. Instead, Ms. Roach focuses on what it’s really like to be in space – hungry, tired, smelly, sleep deprived, sex deprived, and asks important questions like how do astronauts poop?
No small feat in a zero-gravity environment.
Frankly, these are a lot of the questions I asked myself when reading about the space program. What does it smell like in a spacecraft (not pleasant), or how do you go to the bathroom, and what happens to the body during the turbulent launches and landings?
The research in the book is excellent, there are many footnotes, many irrelevant, with little tidbits that wouldn’t fit in the narrative. As a fan of trivia, I appreciated these facts (they make excellent talking points in family dinners), but I could see how many other readers wouldn’t be as enthusiastic.
Ms. Roach clearly enjoys writing about uncomfortable (to us) subjects while not shying away from the gory details. That, however, is part of the charm of the book. The narration by Sandra Burr is clear, and it seems she enjoys reading all the unpleasant details with gusto.
Buy Packing for Mars from Amazon.com*
More books by Mary Roach*
More books narrated by Sandra Burr*
Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I bought this book through an Audible.com membership.
*Amazon links point to an affiliate account, the money is usually spent on books
May Sarton (3 May, 1912 – 16 July, 1995) was a writer, poet, journalist and…
If you want to build excitement around a book release and grow a loyal readership…
The plot might be overstuffed, but I enjoyed the new characters. Moneypenny is COO of…
A.H. Raskin (26 April, 1911 – 22 December, 1993) was a reporter, writer, and assistant…
I hated the author’s passive-aggressive agenda. It just rubbed me the wrong way and seemed…
Teachers can help kids stay strong in bad times, and together they can strive by…
This website uses cookies.