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

INTERESTING!!!

This is such an interesting book. A messy subject written in a light and interesting hand. But beware! It is not one for those who have a delicate stomach. Some of the historical animal research was difficult to know about although it was put in the book to support ideas and not for shock value,

Great

Would you consider the audio edition of Gulp to be better than the print version?

yes, this was so fun to listen to! great narration!

Any additional comments?

What a fun book, interesting and entertaining, and I def learned about the human body!

Loved this digestive tale

I love Mary Roach, I have listened to several of her books and enjoyed them all. This one was very fun for me to listen to because of my interest in human anatomy and nutrition. I think anyone who likes biology, anatomy or similar scientific topics will really enjoy this book. It has fairly basic information but many interesting and unusual case studies that I liked to hear. The only thing I wasn't to into was the narrator's fake accents.

Fantastic and humorous journey-snoot to toot!

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

Mary Roach has done it again, but with another "taboo" topic that is near and dear to everyone (or at least should be) - the alimentary canal! Food from snoot to toot - with lots of interesting anecdotes of people and discoveries along the way!

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Every chapter provides new insights and hysterical commentary about the relatively recent history of understanding our insides!

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this audiobook - the narrator is great, making Mary Roach's dry humor "pop" with witty sarcasm and elements of cultural taboo around one of the most elemental functions of our human existence.. if you liked it, definitely check out other Mary Roach: "Stiff", "Bonk", "Spook" - and I'm about to tackle "Grunt" (released June 2016)

Eye opening

A great look at all that goes into your mouth and what comes out in the end is a new appreciation for the digestive tract and the strange people that study it.

Ewww - I loved it

Listened to this on my daily commute. At one point I had to pull over - gagging. That being said, I learned so much about the digestive system. My co-workers may or may not have appreciated my daily update of interesting facts. A humorous and informative listen.

Fascinating journey

This is the sort of book that reminds me how interesting science is in its own right, as well as showing how close its impact is to the day-to-day experience of living.

Learn more about your gut!

I have learned more about my digestive system then I ever wanted. Fun stories, great people, and tidbits here and there.

Excellent read

Fascinating. And roach's sense of humor strikes the right balance of awe and levity. Fun and informative.

fascinating.

it's so much fun to learn in depth about something that I spend so much time with