Nothing (reading related anyway) trumps writing a well-researched book about an interesting topic and including footnotes that make the reader laugh out loud. That is why I love Mary Roach.
Hard to believe it was almost five years ago when I discovered the paperback version of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers at the local Barnes and Noble. And being the cheapskate that I am – even harder to believe that I laid out my cash vs. getting it at the library, but I’m still glad I bought it. Stiff is an engaging read about options for our dead bodies besides sticking them in the ground or burning them. She covers donating bodies to science for medical research, using bodies as crash test dummies, and the real life stories behind the body farm where cadavers are used for forensic analysis. She also provides historical perspectives about using bodies to test ammunition and ancient societies that developed cadaver-related medicines and supposed cannibalistic activities. My humorous footnote mention for this book relates to the fight among past “highly” cultured societies over what piece of the human anatomy best denotes the soul. If the Babylonians had prevailed, we would be “livering” our loves, not “hearting” them.
Roach’s second book is Spook: Science Tackles The Afterlife. Probably not surprising that a book about the existence of the soul and hereafter would follow a book about dead bodies. I think this book is where I first learned of the studies in the late 1800s where attempts were made to weigh the soul as death occurred. Yes, the answer is 21 grams and, yes, it was an interesting movie. Regardless, this book is where I first learned that. One footnote encourages readers about testing the curiosity of cows. I guess for us farmgirls we took some of this for granted, but for the citybred – I could see where this would draw some laughs and maybe an attempt or two to test the theory.
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex is Mary’s latest book. I would probably tell all underage people in your house that it is terribly boring and make sure you read it in the privacy of your bedroom late at night. That is because hysterical laughter will ensue. I feel for Mary’s stepdaughters – imagine the embarrassment that they had to confront learning too many details about adult sex lives! Roach outdoes herself by personally participating in some of the research studies she writes about (her husband wins martyr of the decade for this one!). She includes details about Kinsey and Masters & Johnson techniques, but she explores where these experts never dared to tread. Yes, I’m talking about the Danish pig orgasm program, website paraphernalia used for breeding livestock, and whether bulls prefer threesomes with other bulls present. She also includes a winning recipe for artificial semen, just in case you need this. The footnote that I will call out for this book is one I may steal – Roach discovered that Nobel Prize nominations are kept secret for 50 years – only winners are divulged. Therefore, you too can claim a Nobel Prize nomination and no one can find out the truth for 50 years! Genius!
Here is Mary’s site – it includes a link to her TED presentation – watching her laugh while she’s presenting “serious” sexual findings is well worth it: http://www.maryroach.net/. Warning: the TED video does include an excerpt of an actual pig insemination that you probably don’t want to view while at work (or in front of your impressionable children). But it’s hilarious nonetheless.
I have not found any mention of imminent Roach releases, but I can’t wait to see what she does next!
Veritable Fount Blog 