Packing for Mars is Mary Roach‘s newest exploration to the quirkier sides of science, this time taking us inside the science of going into space.  She travels the world and talks to the people with firsthand knowledge, along the way sharing historical tidbits and asides that are both interesting and funny.

I love Mary Roach’s collective works.  She’s just really good at what she does.  Which is research something meticulously and expose just how weird science can be.  She did it with religion (Spook), sex (Bonk), and dead bodies (Stiff) previously.  I found all three of these books incredibly informative and also entertaining.  Roach has a way with finding the humor in her subjects while still giving reverence where it’s deserved.

With Packing For Mars she’s delved into the mostly unknown world of space travel and exploration.  When you stop to think about it you realize that you don’t know much about the minutia of going to space.  You might know how a rocket works, and all the flashy stuff, but not so much the small details that are so incredibly important.  Things that scientists and psychiatrists to this day are still trying to figure out.  Such as what happens when you put a whole bunch of people in a small room together for a long period of time with no escape?  And how do you prevent crumbs from getting into equipment in a zero gravity environment?

Roach really goes the distance here from observing potential Japanese astronauts to interviewing ex cosmonauts and  going through many, many pages of transcripts from various NASA flights.  Her research is diligent and the details are fascinating.

If you have an interest in space travel, this is a no-brainer, but even if the subject doesn’t at first fill your head with wonder, how about an educational book that will also have you laughing (and at some points cringing) out loud.  I highly recommend picking this one up.  You won’t be disappointed.  And while you’re at it if you haven’t checked out any of Mary Roach’s previous books, do yourself a favor and get those too.