Gulp

Adventures on the Alimentary Canal

By: Mary Roach

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Best-selling author Mary Roach returns with a new adventure to the invisible realm we carry around inside. Roach takes us down the hatch on an unforgettable tour.

The alimentary canal is classic Mary Roach terrain: The questions explored in Gulp are as taboo, in their way, as the cadavers in Stiff and every bit as surreal as the universe of zero gravity explored in Packing for Mars. Why is crunchy food so appealing? Why is it so hard to find words for flavors and smells? Why doesn’t the stomach digest itself? How much can you eat before your stomach bursts? Can constipation kill you? Did it kill Elvis?

In Gulp we meet scientists who tackle the questions no one else thinks of - or has the courage to ask. We go on location to a pet-food taste-test lab, a fecal transplant, and into a live stomach to observe the fate of a meal. With Roach as our guide, we travel the world, meeting murderers and mad scientists, Eskimos and exorcists (who have occasionally administered holy water rectally), rabbis and terrorists - who, it turns out, for practical reasons do not conceal bombs in their digestive tracts. Like all of Roach’s books, Gulp is as much about human beings as it is about human bodies.

©2013 Mary Roach (P)2013 Tantor

Great book about a pretty disgusting subject

If you could sum up Gulp in three words, what would they be?

interesting surprising fun

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gulp?

Description of gas and the possible start of fire-breathing dragon legends

What about Emily Woo Zeller’s performance did you like?

Great voice, clear and crisp reading, funny accents at the right times

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, a couple of chapters at a time were perfect

Any additional comments?

Really enjoyed it

Mary Roach perspective never ceases to amaze me

Mary Roach never seizes to amaze me! Her professional and witty approach toward this book and five others that I've enjoyed, have left me wanting more. Her exploration of the medical history, anatomy and physiology of the alimentary canal is exact and concise and left me inspired and fascinated.
She is truly a gifted artist showing no restraint regardless of her subject. Professionals respect her and she is able to get an uncanny eye "behind the scenes" regardless if it is a OR, biological lab, vomit comet, or given firsthand demonstrations of weapons of war. The places where you and I would not be allowed to go. I certainly thank her for taking me to places I will never be able to visit on my own.
If you have an interest in your body and what happens when you eat food, get this book.

Entertaining and Informative!

Terrific book about an "unmentionable" subject. If you've ever wanted a tour of the internal workings regarding what hapoens to what you eat, this is a must read. The book's contents are interesting and sometimes curious, and the narration is outstanding, adding such an element to the humorous anecdotes.

Hard to put down or turn off (in the case of the Audible version). No "ick factor" required!!

I highly recommend this title, in either format.

Very entertaining.

For someone who loves science and humor, this book was great. I've read Mary Roach's Stiff and so decided to try this one even though I'm not that into food. She makes everything interesting and her author's notes are really delightful. Emily Woo Zeller does a good job of narrating the text. All of a sudden I only had two hours left and I ended up trying to listen less often so I could enjoy it for longer.

Hilarious and interesting

I love the way this author uses humor to keep us engaged and at ease when talking about important issues and topics.

Nasty subject, Great book!

I LOVED this book. As she did in "Stiff," Mary Roach tackles a less than savory subject with intelligent and humor. I learned a lot of great info about the digestive track, and I laughed out loud at many of Roach's vignettes and explanations. Who knew that ingesting someone else's fecal material could restore your probiotic balance and help you heal, for example? If you have any interest in how the body really works, you will love this book. However, if you are a bit squeamish,you may want to pass. This is not nearly as, well, upsetting as "Stiff," but the subject matter is often inappropriate for "polite company." I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Emily Woo Zeller's narration was spot on. Such a fun listen!

A Book For Those Who Enjoy Taking A Dump

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Many of my friends, for better or worse, are fascinated by poo. This book is more or less a documentary on their favorite subject.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Its all really good. I loved the chapter on what different species like to eat and why.

Have you listened to any of Emily Woo Zeller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Think she did other Mary Roach books. They are far from boring.

If you could give Gulp a new subtitle, what would it be?

"A Book For Those Who Enjoy Taking A Dump"

GULP>>>>GAG

Oh it was okay. I enjoyed the usual Mary Roach funny tone which is always the best part. It was for me pretty much a gross out experience but I knew that going in, so no fault of the author or book itself. I guess I was wanting something more, I'm not sure what, maybe if I could have felt a bit more informed, wait......I did learn one thing...or I thought I did... never mind, now I've forgotten. So I will chalk this one up to an easy fun listen, just not memorable in any way.

entertaining, with an B+ for gross-out factor

You can't help but love listening to a super performance about a certain biological function and some related weird behavior connected to same. At about four points in the book, I just had to take out the ear buds and not listen to the rest of the "tidbit." Glad I listened to it all, and happy to move on to a more boring next selection.

Humorously clinical analysis of digestive system

What did you like best about Gulp? What did you like least?

Narration is very good and Roach describes, using detailed research and graphic but appropriate language, a clinical context that is fasinating to anyone in the medical field or with interest in the digestive system.