Matrix Annotation

Information & Data:
Author: Mary Roach 
Title: Packing for Mars 
Publication date: 2010
Number of pages: 334 
Geographic Setting: Mars, Earth, Space

Subject Headings:

Exploration of.  -- Outer Space.
Astronauts -- Training of. 

Animal Space Flight -- Training of. 

Space Simulation -- Popular works.

Non-Fiction -- Micro History -- Popular works. 

Interstellar Travel -- Potential Science.

Metadata -- Life Science -- Social Psychology.

Boogers & Unsavory Realizations about Science.

Boogers might be a subject in WorldCat.
Think!, the junky & weird world is very under-described.

Synopsis: 

Space is a world devoid of the things we need to live and thrive: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh produce, privacy, beer. How much can a person give up? How much weirdness can they take? What happens to you when you can't walk for a year? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk? Is it possible for the human body to survive a bailout at 4,000 miles per hour? To answer these questions, space agencies set up all manner of quizzical and startlingly bizarre space simulations -- making it possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. From the space shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA's new space capsule (cadaver filling in for astronaut), Packing for Mars takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.  (Mary Roach, 2010)

Book Summary: 

When the first pioneers to Mars are chosen, many considerations will have to be addressed. The author offers a clever, funny, straight ahead nonfiction exploration into the human connection with life & life in space. For the brave individuals who decide they would like to be among the new homesteaders, one must understand that leaving Earth will be a very real & universal sacrifice for the individual, which means leaving behind loved ones & abandoning all sense of past culture. This book is a history of space travel; a hyper-specific journey into the everyday science of what space travel really means for the human mind, the human body & our future society.

A 1-3: 

Known for her "gross out" science writing about the human body. Mary Roach has the rare skill of writing a non-fiction book that reads like a novel;  it is so well researched & presented that one gets that little big feeling. Packing for Mars is both a macro & micro history of our life on Earth and our life in Space.

1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum 
Highly narrative (reads like fiction)

*A mix (combines highly narrative moments with periods of fact-based prose) 

Highly fact based (has few or no narrative moments)

 
2. What is the subject of the book? 
An exploration into the social, physical & technological aspects of Future Travel to Mars.

 
3. What type of book is it? 
Creative Non-fiction, Essays, Exploration, Reporting

 
4. Articulate appeal
 
What is the Pacing of the book?  Measured/Moderate, sometimes single concepts are described from multiple perspectives. The book has a welcoming style that doesn't over-complicate or confuse.
 
Describe the Characters of the book?  Historic figures in space travel, NASA scientists, varied experts are referenced; the first astronauts, cosmonauts & early pioneers of exploration.
 
How does the story feel?  Clever, Informative, Down-to-Earth Accessibility.
 
What is the intent of the author?  To simplify the complex science of space travel, making it fun, thought provoking
 
What is the focus of the story?  To ask the question, do we really belong in space? We still don't fully understand much of our planet.
 
Does the language matter? Yes, beautifully written in objective narration, personal expressions & interesting presentation of experts & professionals in the space world.
 
Is the setting important and well described?  Theorizing about future space exploration as a setting is done in clever ways, nearly always drawing parallels to life on Earth.
 
Are there details, if so, of what? There is a great deal about our bodies in various states of gravity. There is much discussion about the emotional aspects of being in space, even for a short time.

Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear? Yes, but there are not many. She is so good at narrating & explaining concepts that the book simply doesn't need them.
 

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience? The entire book is about learning the behind-the-scenes truths of space; the real stories & experiences of those who have been in orbit, to the moon & those who have worked at the ISS.  Notable chapters deal with the selection & training of future space explorers & scientists; astronauts or otherwise. 

5. Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?
 
1. Learning/Experiencing  & Tone/Humor

2. Detail

3. Tone/Humor
 


Similar works:

Mars on Earth
Zubrin, Robert

The Right Stuff  
Wolfe, Tom

Lives in Ruins
Johnson, Marilyn, 1954-

Zero G  
Bond, Peter, 1948-

Death by Black Hole 
Tyson, Neil deGrasse

Failure is Not an Option  
Kranz, Gene

Flight  
Kraft, Christopher C.
 
The Mercury 13 
Ackmann, Martha

Rocket Men
Nelson, Craig, 1955- 



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