Review: Gulp
Mary Roach is a really brilliant science writer. She picks a topic that 12-year-olds would be excited about, like what happens to the food we eat. Then she goes off and finds out a ton about it and writes it up in a way that speaks to the reader’s inner 12-year-old and more mature side. The result is great books like Stiff, Packing For Mars, and today’s topic, Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal.
Gulp is a good choice for Roach. Her inner 12-year-old gets to talk about all kinds of icky things like spit and poop and make actual fart jokes while her inner science nerd gets to learn about one of the most interesting things people do: turn food into energy. And poop. It’s glorious for her and the reader. Her footnotes on the ironic names of researchers are worth the price alone.
This is great, clear science writing with a sense of fun.
Strongly recommended.