Mary Roach has once again, boldly gone where no woman (or man) has gone before. Science writer Roach, known for her ability to break down hard subjects and scientific concepts for the curious layman, tackles the want and need to replace human body parts in people who, for various reasons, lack them. In her book, Replaceable You, she writes about cases ranging from the need for a substitute for rotting teeth, to the growth of animal organ replacement for humans and the now routine surgeries for hips and knees.
She also takes us through the process of organ donor permission and the resulting harvest of usable body parts. Some of the chapters shine light on highly cringeworthy topics such as ostomies and the repurposing of sexual organs, but everything is written in her matter-of-fact style guaranteed to take the stigma out for the reader. Roach's trademark humor is especially seen in a chapter on Mexican dermatologists who specialize in creating Kardashian-like rear ends (it was my favorite and I cannot lie).
If you haven't read a Roach book yet, this might be a good start. It is very accessible, and the information, especially the new breakthroughs in the field, are important and useful. Time to be blinded by science.
Reviewed by Donna Ballard
September 16, 2025
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