Scan barcode
sarahetc's review against another edition
4.0
Fun and practical. While not generally the two words most people are looking for in a book about space and how people live and work there, Roach's book is both. It starts with the practical-- real questions that real people want real answers to. Important questions like, "How do you poop in space?" Well? How do you? And from there uses her signature brand of warm, friendly writing and humorous asides to lead the reader through an overview of how a human does live and work in space.
I spent most of the book smiling and nodding and really enjoying myself. I contrast this with This New Ocean by William Burroughs, the text we taught History of the Space Age from a Purdue University. The Burroughs monograph is, of course, extremely detailed and rich with triumphs and conflicts. But for everyone who doesn't want comprehensive forever and just wants to enjoy the highlights, Roach's book is perfect. She gets all the facts of space science straight while featuring the real humans behind it, both astronauts and engineers. And others!
A wonderful read and highly recommended!
I spent most of the book smiling and nodding and really enjoying myself. I contrast this with This New Ocean by William Burroughs, the text we taught History of the Space Age from a Purdue University. The Burroughs monograph is, of course, extremely detailed and rich with triumphs and conflicts. But for everyone who doesn't want comprehensive forever and just wants to enjoy the highlights, Roach's book is perfect. She gets all the facts of space science straight while featuring the real humans behind it, both astronauts and engineers. And others!
A wonderful read and highly recommended!
meagan_young's review against another edition
4.0
I appreciated that this was about humans in space and not about space travel. I love biology, so biology in space is pretty interesting
roseleaf24's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
There were a ton of interesting tidbits in this book, but I have now read more about poop in space than I ever needed to know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement and Vomit
Moderate: Sexual content
thetbrstack's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent book. Humorous and informative. Make sure you read the footnotes.
careycarpenter's review against another edition
3.0
There are some very interesting facts about space and astronauts in this book. There is also way too much detail in some sections. The chapter about the dogs in space could have been 90% shorter (and I love dogs but it was just weird). It’s an okay book.
heidilreads's review against another edition
2.0
just couldn't get latched into it... i think i'm just in a fluff reading phase.
liakeller's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting read. Roach is so good at both making science amusing and palatable. Enjoyed learning about Russian space dogs and space food.
onthedig's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Mary Roach has this writing style that I adore. This dry wit and humor that makes a 300 page long book feel like a conversation with a friend. Even more she focuses on the oddities of science. The realities. The humanity. It's my favorite part of science and I love being able to read about it. Phenomenal.
rowiash's review against another edition
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Love me some Mary Roach. Her irreverent sense of humor and unflinching approach to ”unsavory” subjects (like the mechanics of pooping in space) make this another fascinating read.