Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War | 
so-soI‘ve read most of Roach‘s books and didn‘t feel this was her best, possibly because the subject matter wasn‘t as appealing to me. However, it was well-researched, as always. I do think I need to start reading her books in print, tho. My mind tends to wander on audio w/ non-fiction titles.
@dandy.punk ! You have no idea how appropriate your #jolabokaflodswap gift is! My son is a Marine helicopter pilot who is getting deployed overseas in February. He came home for Christmas so we could see him before he leaves. I‘m actually in tears—thank you so very much!
Merry Christmas to you and yours. 😘
so-soOverall I found this informative and interesting. I like the focus on unusual aspects of combat readiness.
My major complaint is that I don‘t find Roach to be as funny as she thinks she is, and she was trying really hard to be funny. Her tone and perspective are often grating to me as a veteran. At times it feels she‘s deliberately misunderstanding things to make a point about civilian vs military perspective.
Glad this was a freebie.
This passage, with the author being dumbfounded and horrified by the blase attitude of the crew to the nuclear drill, bothers me. Obviously, my perspective is different.
The purpose of the drills and all the practice for all nuke crews is to make it routine (just like the previous chapter about combat medics). So if it‘s ever real it‘s automatic and proceeds as always. That‘s what would be needed in that situation.
Cont below
My husband was deployed to Camp Lemmonier, Djibouti, in 2013, and remembers seeing these “GOT DIARRHEA?” signs in the latrines.
Strangely, this was not his favorite deployment...
Amazing that a man gets bodily autonomy, with respect given to any decisions he may have already made about potential fatherhood, no questions asked. But female bodies are treated as potential, probable, reproductive machines, which trumps all other roles that body might play.
“...what the Air Force and the aviation industry, with signature clipped machismo, call birdstrike.”
I‘m confused - what else would you call a bird striking aircraft?
This is my first Roach, and so far I‘m not terribly impressed with her tone. Maybe because the military is near and dear to me (I‘m well aware of the drawbacks, thanks, but I‘m also a brat/vet/spouse/sister/cousin/niece/granddaughter/etc) and I don‘t appreciate the snark. 🤷🏻♀️
pickThis is a fun read, despite the serious asides about the hard facts of war. Whether she is looking at sleep deprivation, hearing loss, genital reconstruction, odor issues, bathroom emergencies, or smell weapons Roach asks the questions you‘d probably be too embarrassed to ask....which lead to some great answers and great stories, and some myth-buster-like experiments and scientific research as she peels back the curtain and lets us peek behind.
I‘m sure the newer satellite transmission are better, but reading these precursors you realize just how crazy humans were to develop some of these things in the first place.
😂 She really does have the best tangential footnotes...
So bikini island, where they tested explosions, and he wanted it to be explosive too...
These chapters on the attempt to use smell in warfare are so interesting and funny, why use teargas to disperse a crowd when you can deploy Standard Bathroom Malodor or some Who Me? Or Stink Soup instead....but this next chapter seems fitting as I start to see the Shark Week Commercials pop up on US TV.
#AuthorAMonth
And now you now what why superheroes wear such silky attire! 🦸♀️. Always doing for silk 😂
#AuthorAMonth
😂 and that is why I love Mary Roach‘s books...she always highlights the funny side stories about how we learned what we know.
#AuthorAMonth
pickI listened to this book for #authoramonth #maryroach #july
Everything you would ever need to know....or not need to know....about soldiers in war. From what they wear, to things that affect them in combat, to what they eat, to injuries and new treatments. Roach‘s books are always kind of oddly fascinating. I am officially filled with random info that will be forgotten by August. Only negative for me was I did not like the reader.
@Soubhiville
so-soJuly 2020 Read - Grunt by Mary Roach - I really liked Stiff by the same author, but this one didn't connect with me. I was curious about the subject, but ultimately didn't feel like I was the right audience for it. I still really would like to get to some of her other books! (I listened to this on audio and had no complaints about the narrator).
Courtesy of the free boxes at the library, today‘s #bookhaul
so-soThis book was just weird and rather gross. It is about the science that helps take care of the military. Its definitely not a book to read while eating and is rather too informative in certain cases (like the chapters dedicated to genital replacement or diarrhea).
#AuthoraMonth @Soubhiville
#BBRC #yeahbaby #GoTeam
@LibrarianRyan @Sarahreadstoomuch
pickEverything you ever wanted to know about the challenges of being a soldier but were afraid to ask...Mary Roach scores another hit with her scientific approach to life in the military
#authoramonth2020 @Soubhiville
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks
pickI love Mary‘s quirky look at little known areas of military science. I especially love the chapter on diarrhea, and I think “inabilitated” is my new favorite word for being sick! She reports on everything from realistic medical scenarios on a movie set to sleep deprivation in submariners.
Great choice for #authoramonth! #bookspinbingo, too.
pick⭐⭐⭐⭐
Enjoyed the alternative perspective to the #military.
Gives you a new appreciation of the factors our military members face that we often don't think about and rarely make an appearance in the press.
⚠️WARNING⚠️
There is quite a bit of graphic material that you may want to avoid if you're prone to queasiness.
#Nonfiction #Education
#GreenvilleSC
Tidbit: if you think you're in danger of being attacked by a shark, you may want to think again. You don't have the stats to back you up!!
#military #Nonfiction #Fyi
A little tidbit: if you think diarrhea is funny, its not. It's a major killer of military service members. 💩☠🤢🤮😵
More like - Grunt: The Graphic Medical Terminology of Military Injuries.
Parts of this book is not for the weak of stomach.
#Nonfiction #medical #military 🤢
⚠️GRAPHIC WARNING⚠️
Be forewarned that this book addresses medical situations. There is no hiding the medical terminology. Just a heads up for the weaker stomached.
Started reading this #Nonfiction research into how war works from a scientific perspective. Excellent read so far! For those of you who aren't into warfare or how #military strategy works, this book is for you! It's definitely for the research nerds!
pickLoved this one. Mary Roach is such an excellent author. This was no exception. This book was very interesting and informative about the science behind war!
For my #bookclub. Pretty much all the members (besides myself) have some type of ties to the U.S Air Force. Thought it‘d be a good read for them :) #airforce #military #nonfiction
Took some inspiration from Litsy and did a #bookswap with friends! Everyone had so much fun!! ❤️❤️
More Mary Roach... don‘t mind if I do! #weirdscience #maryroach #Iwillfinishmygoodreadschallenge
pickA very interesting book on military science. I didn't care for all of the subjects (half are medical), but they were interesting. I learned a lot. Four out of five stars.
Sneaking in some reading between patients. #nightshift
pickReally interesting and often funny look at the science behind the military and soldiers. Especially interesting to me since our son joined the Army and is currently deployed.
I got a surprise package from my mom today, filled with the two best things!
Conversation (via text):
Me: Hi, Mom! What‘s this package for? (Unopened at the time)
Mom: For you!
Isn‘t she the sweetest! ❤️
Saturday night temptation at Barnes and Noble Kitchen.
pick🌟🌟🌟🌟 1/2 stars
I am so thankful I stumbled across Mary Roach. I never would have thought I would enjoy a non fiction book about science...let alone one involving the military. But she has this way of making the most complicated subjects approachable, and so, so fascinating.
Roach gives readers a glimpse at the science and humanity behind the people who go to war, instead of the war itself.
http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/
I love Mary Roach. I want to sit down and have dinner with her, and pick her brain.
Excited to dive into this one.😊
This book is not for the weak of stomach if you're into reading while you eat. I spent my lunch hour today eating microwave lasagna and reading about diarrhea and bugs... 😛 Interestingly enough, it was still strangely entertaining, though. 😁
I am only two chapters into this so far, but I am again reminded why I love her books so much. She is informative and well-written, but so, so funny at the same time.
At the travel clinic getting immunized for a 3 day business trip to Brazil. Should have brought something more comforting to read...💉💊👩🏻⚕️
#nonfiction2018
I‘m really trying to read more nonfiction this year. And Mary Roach is always a good choice. But today I‘ve got pre-Monday, back-to-work blues and I just can‘t seem to focus on this. Sunday reading ruined by work stress! *shakes fist angrily* #nonfiction2018
The only thing keeping me from screaming is my audiobook.... damn you California traffic.... 😭😭😫😫
Grading and listening. Such a tough job to be an ESL teacher ❤️
I saw that my sister checked this same book out from the library so I thought we could do a buddy read. I bought this a while ago. Plus it saves me from having to make a decision on my own of what to pick for my next kindle read.
