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pennsnape's review against another edition
3.0
I love Mary Roach, but the kooky paranormal researchers just don't do it for me. My favorite bits of the book are the footnotes.
jrlagace's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
hmcgow83's review against another edition
2.0
Having previously enjoyed Mary Roach's books, I had no reason to believe I wouldn't like this one. I think maybe Roach does best with the intersection of humor and hard facts - which are few and far between with a topic like the afterlife. It was clear that Roach was approaching her research with a tone of skepticism, but that came off as smug in the writing. The first chapter was especially hard to read, with Roach using phrases like "poorly educated villager" to refer to someone who believes in Hindu reincarnation and describing herself throwing a tantrum over being asked to wear a sari. "I'm sorry about...I don't know. I'm not very submissive." she says to her host family, as though that's the problem with her being able to enjoy or appreciate Indian culture. Even if all of that was her attempt at humor, it was clear her research in India was not grounded in cultural respect. The subject matter itself saved the book from being a total wash, but overall I found it boring at best and insensitive at worst.
tawnsolo's review against another edition
3.0
This book should have been a blog post. The most interesting chapter on EMFs that I would have liked more information on, was coincidentally the shortest chapter. Sadly, the least interesting information was super drawn out.
pslili1998's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Interesting way to look at the paranormal. It hangs between being a true believer, a skeptic and a non-believer and switches the narrative between that as the author goes on a journey to experience things herself.
queenbethie's review against another edition
2.0
Not as good as her others, and maybe that’s because I wasn’t as interested or fascinated by this topic.
fiddlemama's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
3.5
Entertaining, thought provoking, and comprehensive. I love how Mary Roach makes scientific topics accessible through her writing. This book was tricky as the topic straddles science and paranormality, but it was truly fascinating reading about the breadth of opinions, research, history, and studies done on the subject of the afterlife. This book did feel like it dragged a bit, but I am looking forward to reading her other work.
ailenach's review against another edition
2.5
some interesting tidbits but i ended up skim listened through the second half. more anecdoete-based than i hoped, though in hindsight what else could i have expected when youre dealing w like. dubious things like ghosts and reincarnation.
rowanbooker's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0