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Review
'An often hilarious, sometimes queasy-making catalog of the strange stuff devised to permit people to survive in an environment for which their bodies are stupendously unsuited... Wonderfully slapstick.' --New York Times Book Review
'[A] truly funny look at the majestic aspects of the space program... Supremely accessible.' --Entertainment Weekly
'[A] truly funny look at the majestic aspects of the space program... Supremely accessible.' --Entertainment Weekly
Product Description
Space is devoid of the stuff humans need to live: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh veg, privacy, beer. How much can a person give up? What happens when you can't walk for a year? Is sex any fun in zero gravity? What's it like being cooped up in a metal box with a few people for months at a time? As Mary Roach discovers, it's possible to explore space without ever leaving Earth. From the space shuttle training toilet to a 17,000 mile-per-hour crash test of NASA's space capsule (cadaver stepping in), she takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of living in space.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book contains a wealth of information on the nitty gritty of living with zero gravity. Everything from why vets took charge of nutrition in space to the amusing and embarrassingly yucky difficulties of taking calls of nature. It looks at the difficulties of showering, eating, motion sickness, cabin fever the list goes on. Everything you ever wanted to know about life in zero g and believe me a whole lot more. It's serious, it's funny, it's interesting and it's well worth a read. I really don't know where else you could find this stuff out. It's written in a down to earth manner (pun intended) by an author who has obviously, thoroughly investigated the material. I found a few paragraphs detailing the difficulties of practicing one's religion to be particularly hillarious. An interesting subject, an entertaining and informative author, a great read.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you've read any of Mary Roach's previous books and liked them, this is more of her (un)usual look at a topic. It seemed a bit lighter than Bonk and Stiff, but that might be because there wasn't so much historical background here (as opposed to Eros and Thanatos, which go all the way back to the beginning of life). That's why the chapter on looooong-term cohabitation in restricted space will probably stick the most in the reader's memory, while those on animals in space and testing zero-gravity food are interesting, but do not generate as many insights into the life of those forever destined to not go higher than the cruising altitude of a passenger airliner.
Roach documents as well (and first-hand) as she usually does the aspects of life in space, which might lead to a mission to Mars. It's captivating, enlightening and permeated by her enviable sense of humor.
Roach documents as well (and first-hand) as she usually does the aspects of life in space, which might lead to a mission to Mars. It's captivating, enlightening and permeated by her enviable sense of humor.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've heard a lot of good things about all of Mary Roach's books and for my first book by this author I picked Packing for Mars because as a youngster I longed to be an astronaut when I grew up (yes really, I even planned to learn Russian).
Having read Packing for Mars I now think it was a very good thing that I changed my mind! I wanted to be an astronaut because I thought it would be exciting and I would get to discover new worlds (in fact at one point I was determined to try and be the first human on Mars) but from reading this book I've discovered that being an astronaut is 99% boredom, dirt and other excruciatingly embarrassing situations.
For example, Jim Lovell (of Apollo 13 fame) and Frank Borman spent just under 14 days in space in Gemini VII so that NASA could investigate the effects of being in space on humans for 14 days. As Roach tells it the Gemini VII capsule was so cramped that neither astronaut could move much during the time in space and neither could they wash. For 14 days. They weren't even allowed to wipe themselves with a wet cloth. I think Lovell said that this was his most difficult space mission.
And then there's the food, the toilet facilities, the problems of mixed-sex crews. Ugh.
Roach's writing is laugh out loud funny and she certainly doesn't shrink from going into lots of detail about every subject she covers. I enjoyed this book and I am definitely planning to read Roach's other books but I can't imagine reading them back to back. The 'eugh' factor would just be too high.
Having read Packing for Mars I now think it was a very good thing that I changed my mind! I wanted to be an astronaut because I thought it would be exciting and I would get to discover new worlds (in fact at one point I was determined to try and be the first human on Mars) but from reading this book I've discovered that being an astronaut is 99% boredom, dirt and other excruciatingly embarrassing situations.
For example, Jim Lovell (of Apollo 13 fame) and Frank Borman spent just under 14 days in space in Gemini VII so that NASA could investigate the effects of being in space on humans for 14 days. As Roach tells it the Gemini VII capsule was so cramped that neither astronaut could move much during the time in space and neither could they wash. For 14 days. They weren't even allowed to wipe themselves with a wet cloth. I think Lovell said that this was his most difficult space mission.
And then there's the food, the toilet facilities, the problems of mixed-sex crews. Ugh.
Roach's writing is laugh out loud funny and she certainly doesn't shrink from going into lots of detail about every subject she covers. I enjoyed this book and I am definitely planning to read Roach's other books but I can't imagine reading them back to back. The 'eugh' factor would just be too high.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Best Holiday Read
Took this book on holiday with me, and it totally hit the spot. Not too technical, but an approachable and fun read that opened up some useful new knowledge for me. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Dan
Exploring the human element of the "right stuff"
"To find out what would happen to a man alone in the cosmos, at some point you just had to lob one up there. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Joseph Haschka
Very informative and highly enteraining to read
This book focuses on the human perspective of being in space, with all the gory details which NASA and Co very much prefer not to talk about. Read more
Published 2 months ago by evl
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in Space
What it's really like to live and work in space. Brilliantly sharp journalism that gets right to the heart of the subject. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Dave Gilmour's cat
A delight to read
Mary Roach shows us that, when it comes to space, nothing is easy! This light-hearted and well researched book is an insightful, quirky and (at times) very macabre introduction to... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Jennie Mortimer
A fabulous bundle
This is my first book by Mary Roach. She is able to pack humour, good writing and information in a single book. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Paulo
Hillarious!
Packing for Mars is an easily digestible, quirky and entertaining look at the strange paths science has to take to send human beings in to space. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Book 1981
Always entertaining andf packed with interesting facts
A very comprehensive review of the science of space travel but lots of human interest. Ever fancied a trip to Mars? If so, this is the book for you.
Published 13 months ago by apv lancaster
Fun to read and will hook you up for good.
This book is really fun to read, and it gets into the very interesting, however often forgotten aspects of humanity and our imperfections affecting us in the most hostile... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Woyteck
Awesome... worth a read
Thought this book was awesome... Bit conversational in it's writing, but in saying that was also very interesting with a broad range of topics covered.
Published 18 months ago by Jace
Listmania!
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