"This book is a salute to the scientists and surgeons, running along in the wake of combat, lab coats flapping. Building safer tanks, waging war on filth flies. Understanding turkey vultures."

Another Mary Roach book, or more a collection of essays with a different subject in each chapter. I didn't like it as much as Gulp, but it was still interesting. As Roach herself says, she is not the person who shines the huge spotlight on well-researched issues (such as PTSD); she is the weirdo running around poking into obscure corners not even knowing what she's looking for until she finds it.

And so this book talks about the army's large scale testing of red underwear for the troops; experimental stink bombs; studies into shark repellent; and why wedding gown designers are in demand for designing combat gear. Also plenty of poop, guts, maggots, and a whole chapter on penis reconstruction surgery, among other things you never knew you didn't know about.

An interesting listen if those topics interest you! I would have liked a little more detail on some of them, though; she seems to only scratch the surface in several chapters.