Short Synopsis
The irresistible, ever-curious, and bestselling Mary Roach returns with a new adventure to the invisible realm we carry around inside.

Full Synopsis
"America's funniest science writer" (Washington Post) 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 at our side, 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.

"As in her other books, Roach successfully explains a complex subject in an understandable and interesting manner." ---Library Journal Audio Review

"Roach once again goes boldly into the fields of strange science. In the case of her newest, some may hesitate to follow it's about the human digestive system, and it's as gross as one might expect. . . . Adventurous kids and doctors alike will appreciate this fascinating and sometimes ghastly tour of the gastrointestinal system." ---Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"Filled with witty asides, humorous anecdotes, and bizarre facts, this book will entertain [listeners], challenge their cultural taboos, and simultaneously teach them new lessons in digestive biology." ---Library Journal Starred Review

"For all her irreverence, Roach marvels over the fine-tuned workings and wisdom of the human body, and [listeners] will delight in her exuberant energy, audacity, and wit." ---Booklist Starred Review

"Throughout her sojourn down the gastrointestinal tract, science writer Roach enlists her abundant assets of intelligence and humor while dissecting this messy and astounding part of the human body. . . . A touchy topic illuminated with wit and rigor, packed with all the stinky details." ---Kirkus

"As with Roach's whole body of work, Gulp is as engrossing as it is gross. A-" ---Entertainment Weekly

"Narrator Emily Woo Zeller complements Roach's bizarre details, witty style, and humorous attitude word by word. . . . Zeller is undeterred . . . embracing the subject with aplomb and audible appreciation of the author's puns and jests. This appealing nonfiction work yields as much intrigue as any fictional thriller." ---AudioFile

Washington Post Bestseller

Bookpage Bestseller

Amazon Bestseller

Publishers Weekly Review

Library Journal Review

Booklist Review

AudioFile Bestseller

AudioFile Bestseller

AudioFile Earphones Award Winner

Publishers Weekly Bestseller

Booklist Bestseller

Audible Bestseller

New York Times Bestseller

USA Today Bestseller