Kirkus Reviews

A cannon fires grocery chickens at parked jets, testing ways to protect planes against bird strikes. Readers encountering this esoteric project on the first page will settle back to enjoy another patented scientific romp, this one on battlefield research, by journalist Roach (Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, 2013, etc.)."For every general and Medal of Honor winner," writes the author, "there are a hundred military scientists whose names you'll never hear. The work I write about represents a fraction of a percent of all that goes on. I have omitted whole disciplines of worthy endeavor." Roach reveals many of these names, however, along with the stories of their quests to shield soldiers from harm and, if this fails, repair the often gruesome results. Traveling from proving ground to lab to expensive, realistic fake battle settings, the author recounts and often participates as researchers search for better ways to protect soldiers from bullets, burns, explosions, noise, heat, sharks, insomnia, drowning, and disease. If all fails, the military wants to correct the consequences with better prostheses and surgical reconstructions of mutilated or missing body parts. Roach joins Malcolm Gladwell and Steven Levitt in making a career of turning serious research on oddball subjects into bestsellers. But while Gladwell and Levitt aim to stimulate readers with unusual connections among subjects, Roach, the author of Stiff and Bonk, is mostly seeking laughs. She restrains herself when it's inappropriate (an admirable chapter on repairing damaged penises) but never resists easy targets (blast-resistant underwear, the macho approach to diarrhea) and works hard to find humor wherever she turns. When material runs thin, the author inserts breezy anecdotes, descriptions of her surroundings, the scientists' physiognomy, and the sufferings of a journalist willing to try anything. Battlefield R&D is a topic too fascinating to ruin, so readers who can tolerate the author's relentless flippancy will not regret the experience.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

With compassion and dark humor, Roach (Gulp) delves into the world of military scientists and their drive to make combat more survivable for soldiers. Her interest in military matters wasn-t piqued by the usual aspects of warfare-armaments, tactics, honor-but the more -esoteric- ones: -exhaustion, shock, bacteria, panic, ducks.- Roach goes into great detail about the historical conditions that spawned particular areas of research, and she often describes seemingly absurd tests and experiments. Military scientists are so committed to bringing soldiers home alive that they examine nearly every facet of life and death, researching such topics as diarrhea among Navy SEALs, body odors under stress, using maggots to heal wounds, and the -injuries collectively known as urotrauma.- Roach also corrects some popular misconceptions while offering odd bits of trivia. Sharks aren-t particularly attracted to human blood, she finds, though it was discovered that bears love the taste of used tampons. And in the case of reconstructive surgery, her elaborate explanation of penile transplants brings home the true horror of war. Roach-s book is not for the squeamish or those who envision war as a glorious enterprise; it is a captivating look at the lengths scientists go to in order to reduce the horrors of war. Illus. (June)

School Library Journal (Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2016)

Roach does it again. Amid all the debates about the military-industrial complex in the United States, its impact on medicine, invention, and other scientific pursuits is often overlooked. Roach interviews those in science-related military careers, employing her cockeyed sense of humor and awing readers with what she uncovers. Entire chapters are spent on topics as diverse as vehicle and submarine design, the effects of noise, and bodily fluids. The author's ability to ask questions and follow the path of answers wherever they go makes her one of the best science writers for laypeople. In the chapter set at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Emergency Center, located in Massachusetts, teens will learn about uniforms that are not only the right color but also designed to wick away moisture, resist flames, and prevent insect bites. Every one of Roach's digressions is given as much weight as the main topics. The shark repellent chapter is a great example of how an idea can become a "solution in search of a problem." This chapter also questions whether bears and sharks are really attracted to menstrual blood. If that sentence makes readers queasy, Roach is not for them, but if they're dying to find out more, they'll want to read on. VERDICT Anyone with an interest in the military or STEM-related topics will find endlessly fascinating tidbits here. Reluctant readers can also dip in and out. Jamie Watson, Baltimore County Public Library