Packing for Mars

The Curious Science of Life in the Void

By: Mary Roach

Narrated by: Sandra Burr

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2010 Mary Roach (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

One of the greatest book ever

this book answers every question one could ever have about spacetravel and does so in witty, and exiting way

Why I don't want to be an astronaut

Very funny, very informative and Sandra Burr perfectly captures the author's wry humor. When I was young I used to dream about being an astronaut. Not anymore.

Loved Learning from this Book

I had no idea what all goes on behind the scenes of space travel in general. It was wonderful to hear the timelines of inventions and considerations to make astronauts more comfortable during missions. This was a highly interesting subject matter. Glad I picked it up!

An unexpected read.

Packing For Mars, while factual in the history of space flight, does not address the title of the book. Most of Packing For Mars is information covering the history of space rockets. I was expecting a book about the ideas, facts, current work, and the future of missions to the Red Planet. Roach's book does not deliver on it's expectations.

Fun explanation of things we're all curious​ about

Mary Roach investigates and explains many of those things NASA has learned about caring for the human body from the race to space to the present. No subject is too sensitive in this informative and entertaining yet frank look at the research that has gone into the minutest detail of human space flight. I learned a lot. Thank you

Loved this book

outstanding information on the Space program as well as the history and chalanges yet to face.

Insightful, highly entertaining, well-researched

What did you love best about Packing for Mars?

An endless trove of behind-the-scenes stories, highly personal details and quirky humor. The reading captures every nuance of the authors wit and snark.

What did you like best about this story?

Plenty of snippets of transcripts from various missions, crisp descriptions and concise writing.

Have you listened to any of Sandra Burr’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

N/A

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Multiple LOL moments in here. This will be worth listening to again.

Any additional comments?

I would have liked a little more forward-looking material, but I suspect she feared it would make the book out-dated. BUt overall, an excellent book and a fine performance.

A Wealth of Back Story

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

Yes, if they like science and sociology.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hmmm... couldn't say.

Have you listened to any of Sandra Burr’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The reading was a bit monotone but it more or less suited the subject matter. I thought it was good.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed a lot. I also recounted many of the stories to other people.

Any additional comments?

It was an amazingly interesting book.

Amazingly detailed. An Opus of Space travel

Like listening to someone's life work. Very through but rarely tedious. would definitely recommend for star gazers and old scifi lovers

Space is more disgusting than you ever imagined

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would, because I think Mary Roach is funny and I have a new perspective on space travel now. It's taken some of the romance out of Star Trek, though!

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Basically the book is about the human body, not about space. We learn a lot about how the body works by considering what will happen to it in space and in anti gravity. The chapter on poo was way too long, and followed by the chapter on vomit--it was sort of interesting, but just disgusting and not always worth listening to. I guess I wanted more fascinating aspects of space, but I got a lot of poop jokes instead. I didn't like that aspect. I preferred Mary Roach's book about sex, and I want to read the others of hers (I tried listening to Spook, but the narrator made the book sound incredibly racist, so I couldn't finish it).

Was Packing for Mars worth the listening time?

Yes, definitely worth the listening time.