Mary Roach has a unique talent for diving into the strangest, most taboo corners of science and emerging with hilarious and profoundly human stories. If you’ve ever wondered about the secret life of cadavers, the science of space toilets, or what happens when a bear breaks the law, her books are your guide. But with such a consistently entertaining library, where should you start? We’ve ranked Mary Roach’s books based on their Goodreads ratings to help you find your next fascinating—and laugh-out-loud—read.
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All 9 of Mary Roach’s Books Ranked in order of their Goodreads Rating
Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach
Goodreads Rating: 4.16 / 5
Published in 2025
In her latest and highest rated book on Goodreads, Replaceable You, Mary Roach tackles the bizarre and brilliant world of human body repair. From pig hearts to 3D-printed organs, she investigates the frontiers of transplant and reconstructive surgery with her signature wit. This rollicking journey reveals the surreal and wondrous quest to build a better, or at least a replacement, you.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Goodreads Rating: 4.06 / 5
Published in 2003
In this fascinating and surprisingly funny classic, Mary Roach explores the postmortem world. From crash-test impacts to surgical practice, she reveals how cadavers have been silent, essential partners in science’s boldest and weirdest endeavors, giving us a new perspective on life and death.
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach
Goodreads Rating: 3.95 / 5
Published in 2010
Mary Roach blasts off into the absurdly practical science of space travel. She investigates the bizarre challenges of life without gravity, from mastering a zero-g toilet to crash-testing capsules. This is a hilarious and fascinating look at the often-unglamorous realities of getting humans to Mars and beyond.
Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War by Mary Roach
Goodreads Rating: 3.94 / 5
Published in 2016
In Grunt, Mary Roach turns her curiosity to the science behind survival in warfare. She investigates the unheralded challenges soldiers face, from debilitating noise and shock to uniform design and combat diarrhea. She reveals the bizarre science dedicated to keeping human beings intact and functional in extreme circumstances.
Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach
Goodreads Rating: 3.93 / 5
Published in 2013
Prepare for a surprising and hilarious tour of the digestive tract. Mary Roach investigates everything from pet food taste-testers to the science of constipation, asking the bizarre questions we’ve all wondered about. This journey from mouth to bowel is a masterclass in finding the extraordinary within the utterly mundane.
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
Goodreads Rating: 3.85 / 5
Published in 2008
In Bonk, Mary Roach tackles the bizarre and often hilarious world of sex research. From pig farms to MRI labs, she investigates the science behind arousal and orgasm with unflinching curiosity and wit. This book demystifies the most intimate of human acts, revealing the strange and dedicated quest to understand how we work.
Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach
Goodreads Rating: 3.84 / 5
Published in 2021
Fuzz investigates the bizarre frontier where wildlife and human laws collide. From “murderous” trees to jaywalking bears, Roach explores the strange science of human-animal conflict with forensic experts and bear managers. The result is a witty and insightful look at nature’s outlaws and the humans trying to manage them.
My Planet: Finding Humor in the Oddest Places by Mary Roach
Goodreads Rating: 3.66 / 5
Published in 2013
This collection of Mary Roach’s Reader’s Digest columns showcases her witty, observational humor on the home front. From marital spats over cleanliness to misguided web searches, she turns a magnifying glass on the absurdities of everyday life.
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach
(Also published as Six Feet Over: Adventures in the Afterlife)
Goodreads Rating: 3.60 / 5
Published in 2005
Does consciousness persist after death? Mary Roach applies her signature skepticism and humor to this eternal question. She investigates reincarnation research, ectoplasm, and out-of-body experiences, delving into the quirky and often dubious science that has tried to prove there’s life after life.
From the operating room to the outer limits of space, Mary Roach’s work proves that no subject is too strange or taboo for a curious mind. Whether you’re a long time fan or a new reader, this ranked list offers a perfect roadmap through her brilliantly bizarre nonfiction. Do you agree with the Goodreads consensus? Whichever book you pick up next, you’re in for a journey that is as educational as it is unexpectedly hilarious. Happy reading
