Gulp

Adventures on the Alimentary Canal

By: Mary Roach

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

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

Easily digestible fare

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

First off, I must admit to being a fan of Mary Roach, whose books delve into the eccentricities, trivialities, and the “have you ever wondered how” aspects of our human bodies. In this vein, Gulp dares the reader to boldly explore the splendor of what our bodies do to food from bite to bowel. Roach’s style isn’t to take any of this too seriously, or to drown the reader in arcane science; rather, she interviews experts in various fields or takes on the role of observer or occasional lab rat. All of this is infused with liberal amounts of tongue and cheek humor which is narrated in such a breezy, personal tone that I thought Roach herself was doing the narration. In the end, the reader won’t come away with anything close to encyclopedic understanding of human digestion but if that’s what you are looking for then Gulp is the wrong book for you anyway. Instead if you are looking to have a little info to go with your entertainment, and you don’t mind occasionally being a little grossed out (see the bit on tasters), Gulp may just leave you feeling a little awed by how your body works its unseen magic turning what you have eaten into what you are.

Facinating info

I loved all of Mary Roache's books, fascinating research and story line, although some of the research bits are a bit long, but interviews with the scientists are always interesting.

Depth of a TV Show

There are a few valuable insights in this book. I did learn *something* about the way that digestion works.

But really, the book is written for a reader who does not want much depth in the subject, but who would like to hear about the peculiarities of past researchers and the peculiarities of animal digestive tracts, punctuated by tidbits of understanding.

I won't return the book. But I would have liked to know how shallow it was prior to my purchase.

hope this helps.

Tickles Your Tastebuds

Would you listen to Gulp again? Why?

This is definitely going on the "listen again" list, Mary Roach packs so much information into her books that you can never digest (forgive me) it all in one go.

What did you like best about this story?

Roach isn't squeamish about tackling the less glorious topics, she looks into the angles that I want to know about, but am too afraid to ask.

Any additional comments?

If you are inquisitive, any of Roaches works are worth a listen!

Mary Roach!!

Her work is always entertaining and informative.
Her humor and intelligence are always on display. She and and Diane Ackerman are my favorite writers of the genre

Quirky, Fascinating and Funny

This was my first Mary Roach book and I have to say, I love her witty, comical nonfiction writing style. The content is certainly quirky and likely wouldn’t hold the attention of the average reader, but I love science oddities and trivial facts, so I certainly enjoyed this book (disclaimer, it’s not all trivial). I also quite enjoyed the links between science and culture that are woven throughout. It’s a quick and fascinating read that will have you laughing out loud at times. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys science-based nonfiction—not to worry though, it’s nothing like reading a textbook!

Definitely a surprise

This was a book group book for me - not one I would have ever chosen on my own. I’m not sure why the ladies thought it would be so good, but it improves as I went sing. I can definitely say I learned many new things from this book. Who knew there were fecal transplants? Or that Elvis died from an impacted colon after a lifetime battle with constipation?

The book made me far more appreciative if my good digestive health and far more mindful of how I treat my body. This turned out to be a very interesting book after all.

Great Science!

the voice talent tends to act out quotes, I assume to differentiate between the author and her interviewees. I am finding this very distracting and the voice seems to sound almost mocking.

I expect this acting in dictating fiction. I wish I could hear this without the changes in tone.

Narrator was good but...

I was disappointed when I didn’t hear Mary Roach herself read her book. Something was lost without her unique nasal sarcastic delivery.

Last few chapters are great

I am glad I continued to the end. Got a bit boring in the middle. The narration could be better.