RB: Lethargic also? MR: This week very, listless and lethargic.

RB: Speaking of which, do you have long list of prospective subjects for books? MR: No, I have no list at all. RB: MR: What does that tell you about the American public? RB: Why don’t you write a book about that? MR: That will be next. RB: I was thinking, “Would I want to read this book?” MR: Well, it went up to no. Robert Birnbaum: I like Jon Stewart very much, but I thought his interview with you was pretty dumb-he picked out all the potty, scatological, sex stuff from your book- Mary Roach: Oh, I don’t know. I enjoy bird-watching-though the hours don’t agree with me-backpacking, thrift stores, overseas supermarkets, Scrabble, mangoes, and that late-night ‘Animal Planet’ show about horrific animals such as the parasitic worm that attaches itself to fishes’ eyeballs but makes up for it by leading the fish around. I mostly just work on my books and hang out with my family and friends. In addition to touching on her latest opus, Packing for Mars (WW Norton), our chat touches on the foibles of recording interviews, writing about chimpanzees, the joys of dusty archives and library stacks, Erik Larson, the True History of the Ned Kelly Gang, where on Earth she hasn’t been, Coca-Cola in space-well, you see what I am talking about.Īnd there is this from a profile on her website:

If it is not evident from her choices of book topics- Stiff Spook Bonk Packing for Mars-the far-ranging conversation below with author Mary Roach will make it clear that she is a funny, fun-loving, engaging, and wonderfully curious storyteller.

Bonk author mary roach