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Gulp

Travels Around the Gut

Mary Roach author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Oneworld Publications

Published:18th Aug '16

Should be back in stock very soon

Gulp cover

This engaging exploration of digestion reveals the surprising science behind eating. In Gulp, Mary Roach combines humor with fascinating insights into our biological processes.

In Gulp, Mary Roach takes readers on a fascinating journey through the science of digestion, exploring the often overlooked processes that occur after we eat. With her signature blend of humor and insight, Roach delves into the bizarre and sometimes gross realities of what happens to food inside our bodies. From the mechanics of chewing to the intricacies of digestion, she reveals the surprising connections between our meals and the scientific principles that govern them.

The book is filled with intriguing anecdotes and entertaining interviews with experts in various fields, including physicists, nutritionists, and even competitive eaters. Roach's exploration leads to questions that many may not have considered, such as how the texture of a potato chip is engineered for optimal crunch and the peculiarities of our saliva. Each chapter presents a new facet of the eating experience, making readers rethink their relationship with food.

As she navigates the strange wet miracles of digestion, Roach's witty narrative style ensures that Gulp is both informative and enjoyable. It's a compelling read for anyone curious about the science behind eating, offering insights that are as enlightening as they are entertaining. Whether you’re a food lover or a science enthusiast, this book will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the complex processes that occur within us every time we take a bite.

‘A wonderful nonfiction read…The journalism is gripping and the writing is intensely funny. If biology had been like this at school, my life would have taken a different path’.

-- Viv Groskop * Observer, Hidden Gems of 2016 *

‘The funniest book [of the year] by far... almost every page made me laugh out loud.’ 

* Sunday Times, Best Science Books of 2013 *

‘Witty, illuminating and at times astonishing.’

* Mail on Sunday *

‘Witty [and] enjoyable’

* Independent on Sunday *

‘The best kind of lavatory reading… exhaustive and irreverent’ 

* Sunday Telegraph, paperback review *

‘Mary Roach is a science writer who looks very closely at normal things — and close up, lots of things look weird or horrifying… The bit you will talk about most is how prisoners hide things up their bottoms’

* Evening Standard *

'Far away her funniest and most sparkling book'

* New York Times *

‘Engrossingly gross’

* Scotsman *

'The best kind of lavatory reading'

* Sunday Telegraph *

'Insightful, sharp science writing that will have you snorting with laughter is Mary Roach's speciality'

* New Scientist *

‘Disgustingly good... Roach takes a superbly witty prod at our innards.’

* The Times *

'Roach writes clearly, with gallows humour...compelling'

* Evening Standard *

'A wonderful read'

* BBC Focus *

'Joyously funny and intrepidly smart'

* Sa

ISBN: 9781780749891

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 25mm

Weight: unknown

352 pages

2nd edition