Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal

Mary Roach is one of my favorite science writers and I always buy her books and read them when they first come out.This book - Gulp - is all about the alimentary canal; that part of the body that begins at the point where food is consumed and ends where solid waste is expelled. Starting with taste and the mouth, she follows our digestive system all the way down. As with her other books, this one is replete with interesting and often bizarre facts and tales of eccentrics and misguided scientists and experiments gone awry. The author covers all sorts of "taboo" and sensitive subjects and both educates us and makes us laugh.At the start, we learn about the importance of our nose (our ability to smell) and what that has to do with taste. She also compares our tastebuds with those of cats and dogs - showing how we often assume that they will like what we will. Well, it turns out that's really wrong. We learn how different cultures throughout history have found different things palatable and that the foods consumed by the most privileged may not be the healthiest. She also goes on later on to compare the anatomy of man to those of various other animals and points out how we are the same and how we differ. We learn about the problems and benefits associated with our digestive system and the various theories and treatments over time for various intestinal ailments.In typical Mary Roach style, she candidly discusses such "taboo" topics as intestinal gas and our bowel habits. We read about the dangers of prisoners secreting contraband in their stomachs or their anal cavities and go from there to learning about the digestive systems of competitive eaters. We learn about the importance of saliva, all about acid reflux, and the various problems associated with indigestion among many, many other topics. We even learn why Elvis died, and yes it was on the toilet. We even hear a theory why people believed in dragons; and yes it has to do reptiles with gas and combustion. We find out why we don't digest our own stomachs (well, while we're alive) and whether or not animals other than parasites can survive being swallowed and even forcibly make their way out.It's difficult to give a fair summary to this book because it covers so much. This may be favorite book of hers since Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, and like that book this book will literally have you laughing out loud. For example, in trying to avoid the embarrassment of releasing intestinal gas, she writes:"Or perhaps to take the advice of a gastroenterologist I know: get a dog. (To blame.)"As a person who has GERD (acid reflux) and has spent time in the hospital for an episode of intestinal blockage (worst pain, ever), I was especially interested in this topic. But I think it's really something that would interest everyone. You will learn a lot and you will laugh a lot and you will end up wanting to make friends with this author because she is so amusing and so personable.Highly recommended. You just have to read the first few pages to see if this is something you would enjoy. I read this in one sitting; it was not only entertaining but I'm smarter for having read it.

Many years ago, I read Stiff and thought it was a good book, being that the subject matter was of interest to me. I primarily read non-fiction books, usually either science (mainly astronomy and biology) or history. I've spent most of my life studying criminology and forensics, with a focus on serial killers and criminal psychology, so no topic is off-limits or 'too gross' for me. Being that I'd already read Stiff and knew that Mary Roach remained a popular science writer, I thought Gulp would be a great read. I was wrong.Perhaps it's because the book I read immediately preceding this one was excellent (Bill Bryson - The Body), I thought Gulp was ridiculous by comparison. Or maybe Gulp is just a really, really weak book. Roach spends more time attempting to be clever than on writing anything truly informative. She also makes sure to describe the appearance of every person she interviews, and these pointless asides grew tiresome quickly. I'm not interested in the personal mannerisms of sensory analysts or wildlife biologists -- I'm interested in the data. Sadly, the book fails in this regard as well. Much of the information in the book doesn't pertain to the human body at all. There are entire chapters dedicated to mealworms, pet food, and whales (regarding whether one could actually survive being swallowed by one). And these chapters aren't short, mind you -- most are around 20 pages each.Perhaps most annoyingly, the second half of the book is dedicated solely to the elimination of solid waste, and not in a scientific, professional, facts-based way (which -might- have been interesting). No. It's written in an immature, giggly style which, by this point in what had already become a boring and irritating book, grew nearly intolerable. The final 80 pages (or so) consist of three short chapters on flatulence (basically, 20 tedious pages about farts), two chapters on items being inserted rectally (mainly drugs and food, but also other things) which totals around 40 pages, and nearly 20 pages more about constipation, all of it written in the same childish tone.If this sounds like an awesome read for you, go for it -- you won't be disappointed. I, on the other hand, will be donating my copy, and sorely regret wasting my time (and my twelve bucks).

When I worked at Frontier Communications (like working at Intel), I would eat lunch, then read for 30 or so minutes.This is a book that doesn’t really work as a post-prandial tome. Even though I can watch the DiscoveryLife channel while eating, Gulp brought me to the edge.It’s not that the book is badly written, but the author discusses subjects that aren’t usually the subject of medical tomes (spit) to a scientific discussion of feces. As I said, this was not the best choice of book to read after lunch.Despite having said that, this was a fantastic book, taking the reader on a trip through the alimentary canal from mouth to food’s final disposition.Highly recommended for those who are interested to what happens to that steak once you swallow it. I would suggest that you not read this before or after you eat. You’ll thank me later.4.8 out of 5

This was an interesting reading experience. The author has a knack for infusing humor into her writing, she grossed me out a little but also made me laugh.I never knew people taste tested pet food, why would they anyway? She also discusses the taboos behind eating certain foods. There is an entire chapter on saliva and one on William Beaumont and Alexis St. Martin and his experiments. The author introduces you to all kinds of strange experiments as different scientists discuss and examine the digestive tract. There is a chapter on constipation and how it can kill you.I need to be brave a grab a copy of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers.

If you nothing of the digestive tract and how it works this would be an interesting introduction. It is very funny as well as being quite scientifically sound. Playing on the 'yuk' factor, exposing human stupidity and pseudo scientific chicanery, it is a great holiday read. Also provides lots of odd distractions for breaking up stifling conversations.

This book is a clever idea and mostly I found it fascinating. It is the story of our digestive system from the mouth (saliva, taste, tongue, etc.) all the way through the body to the end ... The author tells us some science about it, some anecdotes about strange anomalies that people have had, and how scientists have discovered the facts about our body as well as some of the inaccurate ideas that they had in the past.The book is a bit of a mixture and dots around from topic to topic whilst keeping in the same area of the body. What is included seems to be at the author's whim rather than anything systematic so you learn more science about one part of the body and more anecdotes about others. I liked the eclectic nature of the content and found the stories and science equally fascinating.The author has a particular writing style which involves humorous quips as asides and footnotes. This is quite amusing to start with but rather grates by the end - a little too much of a good thing. She is also rather obsessed with what her interviewees are wearing.I wouldn't say that the book was gruesome but it is dealing with bodily functions (you can work out which ones) and thus is quite graphic in places. Some of the anomalies people have had in their digestive systems are described with a certain amount of glee and there is also some description of some disturbing animal experiments (in the past). I didn't have an issue with any of this because it all added to the book and the story that the author was telling but if you get a bit queasy you might want to avoid some of the pages.I was pleased I had read this book - I was entertained and informed.

Really enjoyed this, I learned a lot of interesting stuff that has stayed with me, and it's written in a funny, readable way. It's sort of like a cross between a Bill Bryson book and a Jon Ronson book, but about digestion... sounds strange but it works! I also read Bonk (by the same author, about sex) but didn't find it nearly as good as this one.

I expected a systematic journey through the alimentary canal but what I got was much more eclectic and much more entertaining. Mary Roach has a journalist's instinct for a good story and although the focus is on science there are elements of history and anthropology in this book. She covers topics as diverse as Jonah and the whale, flatulence, market research for pet foods and smuggling inside prisons, all told with obvious enthusiasm.At times, I found the humorous asides a rather intrusive and she was sometimes a bit too flippant about the manner of death of people who had died quite recently. However, these are small irritations and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will definitely read more in the series.

Gulp tells you all, and much much more than you needed to know about the act of eating, tasting, digesting and excreting all that we take into our mouths.Mary Roach not only follows the food we eat through our digestive tract but recounts past medical oddities, digestion habits of various animals and what Elvis really died of.It is a fascinating if sometimes slightly repulsive look into our inner workings.Roach makes information quite accessible to those who have not considered digestion (except when it pains us) and is quite amusing and light-hearted about her research.I did, at one stage sit down to eat lunch while reading this but found this was not a good idea at all.An interesting book.

The bodily functions of the gut discussed in all their wondrous glory from the mouth to the bumhole. I found this a really interesting read and there aren't that many books on this subject as it's always been such a taboo to discuss such things. Mary's humorous prose and collection of anecdotes fascinated me from start to finish. Elvis has my utmost sympathy. I highly recommend this book and will look out for more of this author's work

I think everyone should read Mary's books at least once in their lives. They are all so well researched - and more importantly - brilliantly delivered.

Fascinating and gross at the same time, this book takes a close look at how we work from a digestive point of view. Full of interesting anecdotes and facts, Roach appears to have done her research well and she brings to light just how amazing the human body is to be able to do all the things that it does. It just remains for you to judge whether you'd like to get up close and personal with your own 'waste disposal system'.

A very entertaining read, though British readers like me need some google translation in places, and the tone of amused disgust can get a little wearing at times. But there is a lot of solid biology and physiology in the book made easily accessible for the general reader through the anecdotal approach of the text. A good way to understand the facts about the bodily functions that affect all our daily lives.

It's OK, but there is a lot of irrelevant explanations regarding what goes on in prisons and other facts which are not of much interest. But if you are really interested in the workings of the human gut read the book by Giulia Enders. This is more to the point and gives you a logical progression from the mouth to the other end.

Very interesting read

I really did not like this book. I did not understand why Ms Roach has to describe everybody she meets. It reads like a Bill Bryson's book about science. I just did not like it. The science is okay but very anecdotic. I much prefer Giulia Enders' book Gut, it is much more relevant.

Fab book. Much more interesting and entertaining than I imagined. I wasn't expecting it to be funny as well as informative. I recommend this to everyone. In addition you get all sorts of information that you can bring up in conversation. Who would have though Elvis's colon was fascinating, and that I would want to tell people about it.

Intelligent, funny, ad a joy to read

Great book i laughed out loud many times a bit embarrassing when sitting on your own. Its a fascinating subject and i wish the book had been longer. I would recommend this book.