Picture an American author who turns the strangest corners of science into laugh-out-loud adventures—meet Mary Roach! Known for her witty, accessible explorations of topics like human cadavers, space travel, and the afterlife, Roach has carved a unique niche in popular science writing. With seven New York Times bestsellers and a TED Talk that’s racked up millions of views, she’s the guide you didn’t know you needed for life’s weirdest questions.
Roach’s knack for blending rigorous research with humor has made her a beloved figure, earning her accolades like the Harvard Secular Society’s Rushdie Award and a spot on TED’s most-watched list. Whether she’s investigating what happens to our bodies after death or how astronauts handle zero-gravity bathrooms, her books are as enlightening as they are entertaining.
The Making of Mary Roach
Born on March 20, 1959, in Hanover, New Hampshire, Mary Roach grew up in the small village of Etna. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wesleyan University in 1981 and headed to San Francisco, where she dipped her toes into freelance copyediting. Her writing career kicked off at the San Francisco Zoological Society, crafting press releases about quirky topics like wart surgery on elephants. On her days off, she penned freelance pieces for the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sunday magazine, slowly building a portfolio that would land her in publications like National Geographic and The New York Times Magazine.
Roach’s leap to books came in the late 1990s, thanks to a nudge from her writing community, the Grotto. A fellow writer’s prediction that she’d land a book contract lit a fire, and by 2003, her debut, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, was a hit. Though she never planned to be a science writer, Roach found herself hooked on the bizarre and fascinating stories science had to offer.
Mary Roach’s Unforgettable Stories
Roach’s books are a masterclass in making the obscure utterly irresistible. Her debut, Stiff (2003), dives into the surprising afterlives of human cadavers, from crash-test dummies to medical research, with a mix of reverence and wit. It became a New York Times bestseller, translated into 17 languages, and was picked for Washington State University’s Common Reading Program. Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife (2005) takes a skeptical yet curious look at what happens after we die, earning a spot as a New York Times Notable Book.
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex (2008) tackles the science of sexuality with Roach’s signature blend of humor and insight, landing on The Boston Globe’s Top 5 Science Books list. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void (2010) explores the oddities of space travel—like how to handle a spacewalk vomit—and was chosen as San Francisco’s One City One Book. Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal (2013) journeys through the digestive system, while Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War (2016) examines the science behind soldiering. Her latest, Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law (2021), investigates human-wildlife conflicts, from thieving bears to jaywalking moose, with her trademark charm.
Roach’s style is defined by her curiosity, humor, and ability to make complex science feel like a chat with a witty friend. She’s not afraid to get hands-on, whether observing pig insemination in Denmark or floating weightlessly for Packing for Mars. Her work is a bridge between the lab and the layperson, making science both accessible and wildly fun.
Why Mary Roach Matters
Mary Roach has redefined popular science writing by proving that even the grossest or most obscure topics can be endlessly fascinating. Her books have inspired readers to embrace curiosity, question the world, and laugh at its absurdities. She’s a champion of STEM, serving on the Mars Institute’s Advisory Board and as an Osher Fellow at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Her TED Talk, “10 Things You Didn’t Know About Orgasm,” has sparked conversations about science’s role in everyday life.
Roach’s impact lies in her ability to humanize science, showing its quirks and its humanity. She’s not just a writer but a storyteller who invites us to see the world through a lens of wonder and wit, influencing a new generation of science communicators.
About Mary Roach
- Born: March 20, 1959, in Hanover, New Hampshire
- Key Works: Stiff, Bonk, Packing for Mars, Fuzz
- Awards: Harvard Secular Society’s Rushdie Award (2012), American Engineering Societies’ Journalism Award (1996)
- Fun Fact: Her TED Talk is among TED’s 20 most-watched!
Snag Stiff or Fuzz and dive into Mary Roach’s hilarious, mind-blowing world of science!