Packing for Mars
The Curious Science of Life in the Void
Published on 24. August 2010
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-0-393-06847-4 (ISBN)
Description
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 can't 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, it's possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. From the space shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA's 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.
Reviews / Votes
"[Her] style is at its most substantial-and most hilarious-in the zero-gravity realm that Packing for Mars explores.... As startling as it is funny." -- Janet Maslin - The New York Times "This is the kind of smart, smirky stuff that Roach does so well." -- Geoff Nicholson - San Francisco Chronicle "Cool answers to questions about the void you didn't even know you had." -- People "An utterly fascinating account, made all the more entertaining by the author's ever-amused tone." -- BookPage "An impish and adventurous writer with a gleefully inquisitive mind and stand-up comic's timing." -- Booklist "The author's writing comes across as reportorial, but with a clear sense of humor; even the footnotes are used to both informational and comedic effect." -- Time Out New York "Hilarious." -- The New York Times Book Review "A delightful, illuminating grab bag of space-flight curiosities." -- Kirkus ReviewsMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paper over boards
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 148 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
491 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-393-06847-4 (9780393068474)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
05/2011
WW Norton & Co
€15.50
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Person
Mary Roach is the author of seven best-selling works of nonfiction, including Grunt, Stiff, and, most recently, Fuzz. Her writing has appeared in National Geographic and the New York Times Magazine, among other publications. She lives in California.