Book Review: Spook: Science Tackles The Afterlife by Mary Roach

-
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife

 Reviewer: Peekaboo
Author: Mary Roach
Publisher: W.W. Norton and Co
Publishing Date: September 26, 2006
Genre: Nonfiction - Science
Rating: 5 stars 

 Amazon Goodreads

 Summary: "What happens when we die? Does the light just go out and that's that—the million-year nap? Or will some part of my personality, my me-ness persist? What will that feel like? What will I do all day? Is there a place to plug in my lap-top?" In an attempt to find out, Mary Roach brings her tireless curiosity to bear on an array of contemporary and historical soul-searchers: scientists, schemers, engineers, mediums, all trying to prove (or disprove) that life goes on after we die.

Review:

 In typical Mary Roach style, this book kicks a lot of ass.
If you've read a Mary Roach book before, you know what you are getting into. A lot of humor, facts presented in a way that is both interesting and educational (and very far from boring), and no desire to cut out what some people deem "the icky stuff." If you haven't read a Mary Roach book before, buckle up, you're going to have some fun.

 Spook does exactly what the subtitle suggests: looks at the afterlife through the lense of science. If you are a deeply religious person, this book may not be for you. She says straight up she is not a God person, and God plays no part in how she will start researching the afterlife. She is a science person.

 I went into this book with little expectation other than a) I've read a few other of her titles so I know how great she is, and b) I was hoping there would be ghosts involved. Because hello, afterlife. I was not disappointed on either account. However, this book is not the science of ghosts. (Which, okay, maybe I was hoping it would be.) She deals with many different scientific endeavors on the afterlife that have occurred throughout history, as well as different beliefs and customs that occur all across the globe today.

 Every time I read a Mary Roach book, I come away with not only a deeper understanding of the topic at hand, but all these fun anecdotes I can spout off at parties, and this book only broadened that pool of knowledge. She deals with the subject of death and dying in a respectful but humorous way, and I appreciate the positivity she brings to what is otherwise kind of a downer.

 If you are looking for a good intro into nonfiction in general, or into her work, this is a nice place to start.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mini Reviews: How to Catch a Mermaid, The Know-Nonsense Guide to Space, Dungeons & Dragons: Big Trouble (Endless Quest series)

-
Image
How to Catch a Mermaid by Adam Wallace Children's Fiction Amazon  Goodreads Summary How do you catch a mermaid? You must be very clever. With mirrors, crowns, and pearls galore,  this quest can't last forever! Review - 4 stars The illustrations in this book are gorgeous. They're so crisp and colorful, they make the book a joy to read. The story is told in a ABCB rhyming pattern, with a "verse" on each two page spread. A problem a see a lot with books that try to tell a story in verse is with an awkward flow, but the rhythm of the verses in this story is wonderful and fun to read. The story is fun, about two kids (and a dog) trying to catch a mermaid, but then they run into some trouble with some sharks and the mermaid ends up saving them. It's a cute, fun read and just happens to be an excellent length for a bedtime story. The Know-Nonsense Guide to Space by Heidi Fiedler Children's Non-Fiction Goodreads S
Read more

It's Challenge Time! - 2019 edition

-
Image
Peekaboo here! I'm stealing a page from Elley's book and posting about the reading challenges I will participate in starting in 2019.  In 2018, I tried to do way too many, and failed, so this year, I shall be doing three. Goodreads Challenge:  For 2018, I put a goal of 100 books, and then when I was 10 away from getting 150 books, so I switched it up. I think for 2019 I'm going to shoot for 125. The point is to set a fun goal but NOT stress myself out too much. Et voila.  (For the record, I do count children's books in with my reading goal. All reading is good reading, kthanksbaiiii.)  Let's Discuss 2019 (hosted by  Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction  and  Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight )  My whole goal for 2019 is to be more creative, and one of the ways I leak out creativity is via writing, so I am hoping this challenge gives me more things to write and discuss, bookishly. Signups are not up yet, but as soon as they are, I'll hop on this bu
Read more

Book Review: The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling

-
Image
The Luminous Dead The Blurble:  When Gyre Price lied her way into this expedition, she thought she’d be mapping mineral deposits, and that her biggest problems would be cave collapses and gear malfunctions. She also thought that the fat paycheck—enough to get her off-planet and on the trail of her mother—meant she’d get a skilled surface team, monitoring her suit and environment, keeping her safe. Keeping her sane. Instead, she got Em. Em sees nothing wrong with controlling Gyre’s body with drugs or withholding critical information to “ensure the smooth operation” of her expedition. Em knows all about Gyre’s falsified credentials, and has no qualms using them as a leash—and a lash. And Em has secrets, too . . . As Gyre descends, little inconsistencies—missing supplies, unexpected changes in the route, and, worst of all, shifts in Em’s motivations—drive her out of her depths. Lost and disoriented, Gyre finds her sense of control giving way to paranoia and anger. On her own in this
Read more