Fuzz

It's been far too long since science writer Mary Roach has given us her unique exploration of a subject most people tend not to think about.  In this case, it's Fuzz - When Nature Breaks The Law (#1,014) complete with an embroidered patch illustrating the topic which I feel Ms. Roach should have been wearing on her shoulder as she interviewed the experts in this book.  It's the perfect touch. (See my posts of 1/4/2011, 3/21/2011/ 3/28/2011, 4/25/203, 5/14/203, 7/8/2016.)

Mary Roach is one of the very few authors who can make me laugh out loud as I read her books.  How does she do it, when much of what she describes is so disgusting?  And it's not just me.  Lulu Garcia Navarro recently interviewed Ms. Roach on NPR's Weekend Edition.  Lulu didn't know quite what to say after Mary launched into her dramatic re-enactment of the classic "deer in the headlights" scenario (which she covers in this book).  In the end, Lulu wound up telling Mary how much she enjoyed interviewing her as they were both laughing.  (You can listen to this interview on the NPR website if you're so inclined!)

In Fuzz we are treated to a panoply of animals and plants intersecting with us to the detriment of humans.  Some encounters are deadly (think bird strikes on planes), some are annoying (being mugged by a macaque monkey in India) and some have profound economic effects (birds eating one of North and South Dakota's major cash crops - sunflower seeds).  How humans deal with these issues reveals as much about us as it does the nature involved in the perceived problems.

You'll be fascinated by what you learn along the way, and always entertained by Mary Roach's snarky humor.  Who else would whip out her phone app in the middle of a predator lecture to measure the decibel level of the speaker's voice?  I just wish you could order your own personal copy of the badge on the cover.  You've earned it by reading this science book, scout!  Oh, and thanks for the woodchuck clarification, Mary!