Talks at Google

Ep435 - Mary Roach | Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law

Apr 5, 2024

Mary Roach, author of 'Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law,' explores the curious science of human-wildlife conflict, from animals on trial in history to modern scientific approaches. She discusses wildlife crime, quirky audiobook narration, macabre tactics like effigies against vultures, and promoting coexistence between humans and animals.

01:02:04

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Episode guests

Mary Roach

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Human-wildlife conflicts are best resolved through science, not jurisprudence.

Liability concerns heavily influence decisions in handling situations involving animals.

Encouraging coexistence and compromise is crucial in addressing human-wildlife conflicts.

Deep dives

Mary Roach's Inspiration and Writing Style

Mary Roach was drawn to writing by authors like Bill Bryson and Susan Orlean, who combined research with a unique style and humor. She majored in psychology, fostering a love for exploring different worlds through travel. While she didn't have specific mentors, she was guided by magazine editors early in her career, and her long-standing editor, Jill Bialosky, has played a crucial role in shaping her writing.

Introduction

2min

Exploring Wildlife Crime and Human-Wildlife Conflict

10min

The Quirky World of Audiobook Narration and Fecal Matter References

20min

Macabre Tactics: Effigies Against Vultures and Leopard Territory

5min

Exploring Animal Road Crossings and Car Collisions

3min

Promoting Coexistence and Understanding Between Humans and Animals

2min

Exploring Peculiar Details and Book Titling

21min

Mary Roach visits Google to discuss her book "Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law."

What’s to be done about a jaywalking moose? A bear caught breaking and entering? A murderous tree? Three hundred years ago, animals that broke the law would be assigned legal representation and put on trial. These days, the answers are best found not in jurisprudence but in science: the curious science of human-wildlife conflict, a discipline at the crossroads of human behavior and wildlife biology.

Mary Roach is the author of six New York Times bestsellers, including "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers"; "Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal", and "Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void." Her books have been published in 21 languages, and her second book, "Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife", was a New York Times Notable Book. Mary has written for National Geographic, Wired, The New York Times Magazine, and the Journal of Clinical Anatomy, among others.

Visit http://youtube.com/TalksAtGoogle/ to watch the video.