Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal

Gulp explores the human digestive system through scientific investigation and firsthand observation. Mary Roach examines questions that scientists pursue regarding digestion and taste, including why crunchy foods appeal to us, the difficulty in naming flavors and smells, stomach capacity, and whether constipation can be fatal. Roach visits various locations to document her research, including a pet-food taste-test laboratory, a fecal transplant procedure, and inside a live stomach. She also travels internationally to interview diverse subjects including scientists, murderers, Eskimos, exorcists, rabbis, and terrorists, exploring how their work and lives intersect with digestive science. Like Roach's previous books, Gulp balances scientific inquiry with observations about human behavior and experience.