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What Members Thought
Amusing and well-written. Still giggling at the section wherein a North Carolina court accepted ghost evidence back in the 20s.
Mary Roach writes about the every day things that we don't even think about most of the time, because they're just life. Or death. Or what comes in between. Sex, eating, war, death, and now, what comes after all that, and how people have coped with thinking of what's next.
The whole book is wonderful, but the section on spiritualists and their debunkers is priceless. The whole thing about the sheep's omentum, and the woman who gave birth to rabbits held me spellbound. It's a wild ride, as usual ...more
The whole book is wonderful, but the section on spiritualists and their debunkers is priceless. The whole thing about the sheep's omentum, and the woman who gave birth to rabbits held me spellbound. It's a wild ride, as usual ...more
Mary Roach looks at the afterlife through the eyes of science, both past & present. It's a tough subject to pin down, as she shows in her typically thorough & funny way. If you read this looking for what actually does happen after you die, you've picked up the wrong book. She says that in her introduction. Yes, she was trying to find out. She interviewed dozens of scientists, read up on more & even went on outings or classes with a few paranormal clubs. The upshot is, no one reliably knows. But
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Not as good as Stiff - The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, but I still loved it. Her writing is still funny and hard to put down (read this one in three days).
I guess what made this one not quite as great was that was that so much of it was devoted to quackery. The chapter on near death experiences, and on the notion that perhaps EMF disturbances cause a sense of 'presences' (rather than the other way around) are more tantalizing, but mostly you're reading about obvious frauds, nutcases, or nut ...more
I guess what made this one not quite as great was that was that so much of it was devoted to quackery. The chapter on near death experiences, and on the notion that perhaps EMF disturbances cause a sense of 'presences' (rather than the other way around) are more tantalizing, but mostly you're reading about obvious frauds, nutcases, or nut ...more
Another wonderful one from Mary. Thought provoking and literally laugh out loud funny at times! More please, Mary!
Interesting but not very informative
Mary Roach has been one of my favorite science writers for years and she does not disappoint in this funny, creepy and informative book
Excellent book on the scientific processes (or lack thereof) that attempt to understand what occurs after death. Mary Roach has done an excellent job making the information entertaining, interesting, and educational.
Mar 30, 2008
Waldtochter
marked it as to-read
Jun 29, 2008
Samuel
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Jan 05, 2009
Christy
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Jan 06, 2009
AER
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Apr 09, 2011
Velvetink
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Aug 04, 2011
Shelley
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Sep 02, 2011
bsc
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Apr 12, 2013
Stacy
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Jul 07, 2013
Amy
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