FEATUREbook reviewSCIENCE IN THESPOTLIGHTBOOK REVIEW : GULPBY KEVIN WANGWe gulp dozens of times each day. We swallow our food and weswallow our beverages, unaware of the evolutionary wonder that isthe alimentary canal.Mary Roach, author of the best-seller Stiff, dives into the humandigestive tract in her new book Gulp. In her unapologetically bluntstyle, Roach combines science and history, humor and sincerity totake us from mouth to rectum and back up again. Although Roach’simpressive compilation of historical anecdotes is indeed entertaining,its effect is undermined by the forced nature of other topics inthe book.The book’s main strength lies in Roach’s scientific run-down ofour bodies’ digestive processes and the ridiculous stories she tellsalong the way. For instance, she dedicates a whole chapter to thecomplex relationship between William Beaumont and Alexis St.Martin. Beaumont was a surgeon who was fascinated by a gunshotwound in St. Martin’s stomach. This wound created a hole throughwhich Beaumont could peek into the inner workings of St. Martin’sstomach. Beaumont became obsessed with this stomach wound, andwas extremely reluctant to part ways with his patient.From the mealworm’s ability to “eat out” of its host’s stomach tothe animal instinct of eating feces (autocoprophagia), Roach does notshy away from any story about our digestive system, no matter howrevolting. Death and pain are rampantthroughout the book, and one growsto see them in the humorous light shedoes, especially when toxic flatulenceis involved.But Gulp is far from all fun andgames. As much as Roach tries tomake us laugh, she also espouses thenutritional value of including organsin our diet, discusses the healthbenefits of chewing, and questionsthe modern state of health policyin America. However, these briefsparks of sincerity seem misplacedand forced.As smoothly as Roach’s stories flow from one to the next, someare so brief and under-developed that it seems as if she is merelycrossing tasks off a checklist. Her day-to-day accounts add a personaltouch, but the book occasionally read too much like a diary.Roach’s Gulp is certainly a delightful meal, but be prepared foroccasional stomach cramps along the way. Not to worry, though; theywill definitely not last long.BOOK REVIEW : NEWTON’S FOOTBALLBY ELENA MALLOYNewton’s Football, the Science Behind America’s Game examines footballthrough the lens of physics and mathematics. Authors AllenSt. John and Ainissa Ramirez provide a unique view on the mostpopular Sunday family-bonding event. Ramirez, a former AssociateProfessor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Yale,collaborates with best-selling author St. John to create an accessibleand enjoyable scientific novel. However, in their effort to increaseaccessibility, the authors come dangerously close to oversimplifyingtheir explanations.As the title suggests, Newton’s Football describes physics conceptssuch as gravity and spin in order to explain ball movement and otherphenomena in football. St. John and Ramirez quickly and comfortablydive into the hard science behind football. Each section of the bookalternates between an anecdote from the football field and a scientificexplanation for the phenomenon. This structure creates an easy-tofollowand captivating novel for any football fan.But those more interested in science than football might bedissatisfied with the book’s easy pace. Chapter introductionsnarrate the history of football in great detail; for example, St. Johnand Ramirez discuss the creation of the actual ball from pigskin.However, the accompanying scientific tidbits — that the making andshape of the football relate to the direction of its movement, forinstance — seem mundane in comparison. Because of its simplicity,the information presented in Newton’sFootball might seem like commonknowledge to the advanced scientist.Most high school level physicsclasses address the parabolic motionof an object. However, St. John andRamirez do not wade deeper than thishigh school explanation. In creating ascience novel for sports enthusiasts, theauthors unfortunately dilute most ofthe science.St. John and Ramirez have straddleda difficult disciplinary line in theirbook Newton’s Football, the Science BehindAmerica’s Game. They try to blend these two areas together, butthere are often jolting contrasts between sports slang and sciencevocabulary. For example, the book refers to the football as a Wilson“Duke” but also describes the ball’s shape as a “prolate spheroid.”Of course, if given a chance, Newton’s Football can connect withreaders without a background in science or football. The novelis worthwhile for any individual interested in sports and science,although prospective readers should know beforehand that thescience is rather thin.38 Yale Scientific Magazine March 2014 www.yalescientific.org
The MistakeBY CELINA CHIODO and ANDREW SUNGcartoonFEATUREadvertisement