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Comments (26)

Packing for Mars

the Curious Science of Life in the Void
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1 to 25 of 26 items
May 05, 2023
"It's by turns educational, funny, and ross. What would it *actually* take to go to Mars? This entertaining book answers that question of the day-to-day costs, not just of money but of time and on human psychology. Remember - it's a…
May 24, 2021supernova_reader rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Roach points a light to the parts of space travel that aren't featured in documentaries and news stories. The book was hilarious and her vivid imagery had me zipping through this book in one sitting.
May 25, 2020csmith72 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed Mary Roach's humorous approach to describing the different aspects of space travel that astronauts encounter. I found her writing style made a potentially dry topic engaging and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny.
Oct 22, 2019
I'm not reviewing this audio book for content because I became too frustrated to get past the first disc. I'll borrow the hardcover from the library later. The problem with the audio book is that for reasons I can't understand, each track…
Jul 20, 2019IndyPL_SteveB rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Roach is one of the funnier writers of non-fiction science. She digs deep for facts and then presents them in a wry way that completely holds your attention. *Packing for Mars* is about NASA and the research done over the years on space…
Jul 16, 2019caleherreman rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This is a very funny book about a subject so serious that our country has invested billions of dollars in learning about it, going there, and coming back. But as such, NASA is very, very image conscious, so Roach tries to cut through the…
Apr 04, 2017ArapahoeAlyson rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Mary Roach could write about anything and make it engaging and informative. I have very little interest in the space program yet I loved this book!
Radharc
Apr 25, 2015Radharc rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Yet another engrossing and informative read from Mary Roach. This time space (specifically, the tests one must endure before going "out there") is the focus. Pure fun!
Sep 24, 2014quagga rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Quirky, fascinating and funny: I wish everyone else would write about science that way that Mary Roach does!
Nov 17, 2012Christopher A Procter rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This is the space stuff that isn't written down for science (or, if it is, the stuff that doesn't get repackaged for the public). It's about all the tests that you have to do beforehand, and about exactly why taking a corned beef…
Sep 18, 2012tocch101 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A good read that was fun, discusting, and entertaining. The questions remain relevent, but due to the high rate of space exploration, it seems, at time to be out of date.
Quimeras
Sep 04, 2012Quimeras rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
“Packing for Mars” was informative and funny. It exposed the not-so-glamorous side of space travel and it definitely gave me a new appreciation for gravity!
Aug 21, 2012
Even if you don't think you'd be interested in this topic, you will find it facinating reading. And a very humorous book to boot! We currently take space station travel and life on a space station as everyday unremarkable. We give…
Jul 02, 2012Ana55 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This was informational, educational, and just plain FUN TO READ! I enjoyed being a shameless voyeur of all that goes into space flight and the preparation for it, and the aftermath. It wasn't full of science-y language nor hard to…
Jan 05, 2012BPLNextBestAdults rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
As you read this, the Curiosity rover is travelling towards Mars, and is expected to arrive next August. If there were humans aboard, things would be even more complex. Our bodies are not designed for weightlessness, or extra gravitational…
Nov 29, 2011jasonruhl rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Mary Roach's brilliant sense of humor and wit make this an engaging, delightful, and memorable read. Also by her are Spook, Bonk, and Stiff whcih I recommend as well; though Packing For Mars deals with lighter subject matter than her other…
GVPLfan
Aug 18, 2011GVPLfan rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
A delightfully entertaining, well written book on some of the less glamorous aspects of space flight.
Mar 06, 2011Aualtima rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A very entertaining read about the space program.
Mar 01, 2011joannet2 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed learning about the human element and stories of space travel. This was an enjoyable read about a subject I know very little about and had very little interest in learning. The author managed to teach and amuse me which is…
Feb 04, 2011Pygoscelis rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Mary Roach is a great science writer because she writes very personally. She includes interviews with the relevant astronauts and scientists and describes how she went about learning the information that she has put together for lucky…
Jan 25, 2011ngathuynh rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Educational and absolutely hilarious at the same time. Every aspect of space travel is covered scientifically and yet in such a humorous way that this book will never make it to the list of must reads for the suffering insomniac.
Jan 06, 2011jmikesmith rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This is an easy-to-read, humorous examination of the trials and tribulations of living in space. Based on extensive interviews with the people who designed and used space-living equipment, author Mary Roach looks at such topics as…
Dec 16, 2010ThePatelvis rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A fascinating look into the obvious and not-so-obvious aspects of hurling humans into space. Gives one a great appreciation for the pioneers of space flight and to the feats of engineering and science that allowed a man to go to the moon…
Dec 13, 2010
"Roach is an entertaining, intrepid guide as she reveals everything you want to know about the day-to-day realities of space travel and life without gravity--and some things you don't." Top 10 Books of 2010: Shannon McKenna Schmidt
Nov 15, 2010Swtalyssums rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A humorous book on the history of moon exploration.