mschlat's review
4.0
Okay, here's my list of Mary Roach books in order of awesomeness: [b:Stiff|32145|Stiff The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers|Mary Roach|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1347656489s/32145.jpg|1188203], [b:Bonk|2082136|Bonk The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex|Mary Roach|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1348226205s/2082136.jpg|2398516], [b:Gulp|13615414|Gulp Adventures on the Alimentary Canal|Mary Roach|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1352232547s/13615414.jpg|19216563], [b:Spook|14990|Spook Science Tackles the Afterlife|Mary Roach|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1401287778s/14990.jpg|2398507], and [b:Packing for Mars|7237456|Packing for Mars The Curious Science of Life in the Void|Mary Roach|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1290480157s/7237456.jpg|8159756]. There's a big gap between the duo of Stiff and Bonk and the others, and I barely remember Packing for Mars.
Grunt fits in just below Stiff and Bonk. While ostensibly about military science, there's a good bit about the macabre and strange that I expect from a Mary Roach book. (In particular, while grossed out over the whole chapter, I was not surprised to see coverage of penis transplants from corpses as a potential treatment for military men injured by IEDs.) There is a good bit of military stuff in here, including a lot about Special Forces, but I don't think the theme is that strong. Roach has always delighted in the monomania of scientists and researchers, and the switch to military science --- while interesting --- doesn't seem to take root and produce a radically different experience. However, I was amused by the many times Roach mistook military apparatus for civilian conveniences. (Those are rifle holders, not cup holders.)
Still, it's a very fun read, and well worth the time if you've enjoyed any of her other books.
Grunt fits in just below Stiff and Bonk. While ostensibly about military science, there's a good bit about the macabre and strange that I expect from a Mary Roach book. (In particular, while grossed out over the whole chapter, I was not surprised to see coverage of penis transplants from corpses as a potential treatment for military men injured by IEDs.) There is a good bit of military stuff in here, including a lot about Special Forces, but I don't think the theme is that strong. Roach has always delighted in the monomania of scientists and researchers, and the switch to military science --- while interesting --- doesn't seem to take root and produce a radically different experience. However, I was amused by the many times Roach mistook military apparatus for civilian conveniences. (Those are rifle holders, not cup holders.)
Still, it's a very fun read, and well worth the time if you've enjoyed any of her other books.
rob503's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting and well written, Roach explores some of the under appreciated portions of the military. Through a deft pen for writing science and a healthy dose of humor Roach does well to describe some very difficult topics with the utmost care. I recommend this to anyone interested in some of the science and projects that make the U.S. military what it is.
vitsa's review
3.0
I like non fiction mostly because it provides me with a whole array of random facts I can pull out of my hat when the conversation stalls.
This book was excellent for small talk material.
Did you know listening to volumes of over 90 decibels can damage your hearing in less than 5 minutes of exposure? Did you know that submarine workers are chronically sleep deprived? Did you know that there are advancements being made in the field of penis transplantations?
It was a fun book and Mary Roach has an easy and enjoyable writing style. I would like to read something else of hers. Get myself some more random knowledge.
This book was excellent for small talk material.
Did you know listening to volumes of over 90 decibels can damage your hearing in less than 5 minutes of exposure? Did you know that submarine workers are chronically sleep deprived? Did you know that there are advancements being made in the field of penis transplantations?
It was a fun book and Mary Roach has an easy and enjoyable writing style. I would like to read something else of hers. Get myself some more random knowledge.
thisotherbookaccount's review against another edition
4.0
I served in the Singapore military for two years. Somewhere within that time, the Singapore Armed Forces thought it'd be a good idea to replace our combat boots with new and improved ones. One problem that the new boots were meant to fix was athlete's foot. Due to the fact that the soldiers would sometimes spend days on end out in the field, rain or shine, without a chance to air our feet, water would gather inside the boots and cause foot rot.
As such, the ingenious developers and engineers went to work on the boots. They came up with a new design with punctured holes on the sides. What they didn't realise was that the four holes on the new pair of boots now allow water to sip into our boots WAY MORE EASILY than before. It is the joke of drilling holes in your sinking boat to let the water out, only to let more water in instead.
So coupled with the fact that Mary Roach's latest book is on military science, I just had to pick this one up. I am happy to report that this one of Mary Roach's best, perhaps trailing just behind Bonk and Stiff. I think this book will be more relatable to those who have been through military services. The fact that the military was researching for ways to make soldiers stay up longer does not surprise me whatsoever.
Not every decision is as bad as the one I mentioned about the shoe holes, though. There are some genuinely interesting innovations featured in this book, such as the uniform of a sniper, the design of bomb0-proof vehicles, as well as fire-resistant fabrics. Many of these innovations have gone on to save lives, and in true Roach tradition, she masterfully mixes the informative with the fun. The end result is an educational and fascinating look at the other side of military science. Highly recommended.
As such, the ingenious developers and engineers went to work on the boots. They came up with a new design with punctured holes on the sides. What they didn't realise was that the four holes on the new pair of boots now allow water to sip into our boots WAY MORE EASILY than before. It is the joke of drilling holes in your sinking boat to let the water out, only to let more water in instead.
So coupled with the fact that Mary Roach's latest book is on military science, I just had to pick this one up. I am happy to report that this one of Mary Roach's best, perhaps trailing just behind Bonk and Stiff. I think this book will be more relatable to those who have been through military services. The fact that the military was researching for ways to make soldiers stay up longer does not surprise me whatsoever.
Not every decision is as bad as the one I mentioned about the shoe holes, though. There are some genuinely interesting innovations featured in this book, such as the uniform of a sniper, the design of bomb0-proof vehicles, as well as fire-resistant fabrics. Many of these innovations have gone on to save lives, and in true Roach tradition, she masterfully mixes the informative with the fun. The end result is an educational and fascinating look at the other side of military science. Highly recommended.