Gulp

A scientific adventure through our digestive tract, from the New York Times bestselling author of Stiff—"Her funniest and most sparkling book" (Janet Maslin, New York Times).

"Hilarious and exuberant…. With its wealth of you'll-never-believe-it facts and oddball experts, it's a charming conversation starter. (But maybe not at the dinner table.)"—People

"America's funniest science writer" (Washington Post) takes us down the hatch on an unforgettable tour of our insides. In Gulp we meet scientists who tackle the questions no one else thinks—or has the courage—to ask. Why is crunchy food so appealing? Why is it so hard to find names for flavors and smells? How much can you eat before your stomach bursts? Can constipation kill you? Did it kill Elvis?

"As engrossing as it is gross."—Entertainment Weekly

"A delicious read and, dare I say it, a total gas."—Boston Globe

"An absolute delight…. I can't even think of another modern writer, or anyone from a previous era, who has so thoroughly—and so engagingly—written about the way scientists go about their work."—Washington Post

"Insatiably curious…wildly entertaining."—San Francisco Chronicle

"[Roach] seems congenitally incapable of writing a boring sentence."—Salon