How Do You Go to the Bathroom in Space?: All the Answers to All the Questions You Have About Living in Space

by William R. Pogue, John Glenn (Introduction)

Have you ever wondered what it's really like for an astronaut in outer space? From the exciting moments to the day-to-day details, from the serious to the humorous, you'll find answers to every question you've ever had about living in space!What does it feel like to be weightless? Would a sneeze propel you backward? What happens to your body in space? And, most importantly, how do you go to the bathroom in space?Find out the answers from the astronaut who for more than a decade held the world record for the number of days spent living in space!To take advantage of the renewed interest in space travel, thanks to the success of Packing for Mars, this re-release of the bestseller (with over a quarter million copies in print) features a fresh look, dozens of authentic NASA photographs, and an introduction by John Glenn.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Space, Science, Nonfiction

137 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 1985

About the author

William Reid "Bill" Pogue

Reviews

[Jitka Egressy · Rating 5 out of 5]

100 questions from John Glenn. Funny way how to learn more about living in space.

[Rohit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book when I was researching for an article. Here, the author answers some basic to some silly-looking but very interesting questions about space that come up in everyone's mind. Some questions like these put a smile on my face.
- What did you do if your nose itched when you were in your space suit?
- Did you snore in space?
- Could you play basketball in space?
- What did you do if your nose itched when you were in your space suit?
- Did you miss sex?/Could you have sex in space?
- What would you do if another guy gets crazy in space?

This is a fun-to-read book with cool space facts. Some information seem a little outdated though.

[Art · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. Pogue did a good job telling young people about how the body works in space and bathroom functions in the Skylab and various other space vehicles.
Well done and in good taste.
Makes one happy to be here in gravity!
:0)

[Samantha Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

How Do You Go to the Bathroom in Space? by William R. Pogue is a delightful and insightful look at the fascinating world of space travel, told through the lens of an astronaut’s personal experiences. Written by Pogue, who spent over 200 hours in space as part of NASA’s Skylab program, the book offers readers a unique and often humorous perspective on what life is really like aboard a spacecraft.

The premise of the book is deceptively simple: Pogue addresses common questions and curiosities about space travel, particularly focusing on the oddities and challenges astronauts face in the zero-gravity environment. The titular question, "How do you go to the bathroom in space?" serves as an entry point into deeper discussions on space logistics, the technical aspects of daily living in orbit, and the human side of being isolated from Earth.

What makes this book so enjoyable is Pogue's candid and personable writing style. His tone is conversational, making complex concepts easily digestible without sacrificing scientific accuracy. Readers will find themselves learning not just about the practicalities of space travel but also about the mental and emotional resilience required to live in such an unusual and high-stakes environment. Pogue’s anecdotes and humor—often self-deprecating—bring the challenges of space travel down to Earth, making it relatable and fun.

The book covers a wide range of topics, from the science behind orbiting and weightlessness to the logistics of eating, sleeping, and exercising in space. While Pogue goes into technical detail, the writing never becomes dry. He is quick to share personal stories, which range from the mundane (adjusting to strange sleeping arrangements) to the dramatic (the excitement of a spacewalk or encountering unexpected issues with the spacecraft).

If there’s one area where the book could improve, it’s in its pacing. At times, the flow can feel a bit uneven, with certain topics receiving more attention than others. But that is to be expected when the book is all question and answers. That being said, some readers might feel like they’re being bogged down by excessive technical details, while others will appreciate the depth. However, this minor issue doesn’t detract much from the overall experience.

How Do You Go to the Bathroom in Space? is a fun and educational read for anyone interested in space exploration, whether you’re a space enthusiast, science buff, or simply curious about the human experience in orbit. Pogue’s engaging narrative makes space feel closer and more accessible, while his humorous insights into everyday life in the cosmos will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Overall, this book is an enjoyable and informative read that balances humor with real-world science, making it an excellent addition to any space-lover’s bookshelf!

[Matthewf · Rating 4 out of 5]

How Do You Go To The Bathroom In Space? Is a very informative book. Besides answering the title question, there are 246 others that are explained. Their information ranges from the price of space suits to the physics behind the aurora (a thin glow around a re-entering spacecraft). There are no particularly complicated concepts, and I think that a seven year old could read it with no major difficulty. It is a bit hard to refer back to a certain question because of the lack of table of contents. However, if you remember the topic of the question, there is a very useful index at the back of the book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super interesting questions and answers. The only thing is I wish there were a more updated copy as this version is from 1999.

[Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

Factual. Informative.

[Jacalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ☆

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 2 out of 5]

William R. Pogue served as an astronaut on a number of missions including the last Skylab mission. His book How Do You Go to the Bathroom in Space? presents a number of questions and answers (246 in the most recent edition according to Pogue's website) about life in space. The book is aimed at readers aged 9 to 12 and it is a solid introduction to the space program and a number of other topics.

I happened to read a 1985 copy that had been retired from a local school library and the book felt dated. It's nice to know that there are newer editions available (1991 and 1999).

From reading reviews of this book on various online sites, I can see that it is still very well received especially in the elementary schools. Reading it out of context, in a local coffee shop, I found the book a bit dull in places. The book works best as a reference material, rather than something to read cover to cover in one sitting.

[John]

I came across this interesting book when I was browsing through my teacher's bookshelf for something to read during middle school.

The book was in a very good condition except for the fact that the pages were brown due to aging. Curiosity got the best of me and I took the book home during Christmas vacation.

This book has enough facts to answer questions from a very curious middle school student. The book is very kid friendly due to its simplified vocabulary, occasional humorous pictures, and even a small glossary at the bottom of each page in case someone doesn't understand a term being used.

The book wasn't made entirely for the younger readers however, there were areas in the book where the vocabulary gets technical and the answers get bigger and maybe a page long in a few occasions.

Overall, a very good book for all readers young or old.

[Daminick Cavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not finished with the book yet, but it is interesting autobiography. This autobiography author was William R. Pogue. He is was the book is about. Their are questions in the book that he answers that people asked him. The book also tells facts about was happens in space when you do something. Sneezing when there is no zero gravity can send you flying backwards like a small rocket because your sneeze is at least 100 MPH. Since the book is called How Do You Go To The Bathroom In Space? It tells how to goto the bathroom in space. The theme of this story is William's experience in space when he was an astronaut. When you goto the bathroom your feet are strapped on to the floor in the space station so you don't float when you are taking a deuce. I gave this book a 4 of 5 star I recommend this book because of how much you learn and how interesting it is.

[Jessica Subject · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book resembles a book for adults and can be found in the adult non-fiction section, it is aimed toward students. Mind you, I did find a lot of useful information for the story I'm writing. Plus, there were a lot of links to find more info as well. Although this book has already been updated once, I'm sure it could be again.

If you are looking for information about what astronauts experience in space, I highly recommend this book.

[Ashish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tongue-in-cheek book answering all possible questions about space travel and zero gravity experience in short read question-answer format.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heh heh. My Dad got tired of trying to answer questions I had about space that he couldn't answer so he got me this.

[MisterFweem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book as I'm researching a book I'm writing. Informative, if a bit engineering in the writing. Full review here.

http://misterfweem.blogspot.com/2011/...

[1 Kylar]

I thought this book was ok but it was a little boring and confusing sometimes. My favorite part was when it said Venus was like a twin to Earth, but it's atmosphere is so hot it can melt lead.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice book about space facts!

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting content. Some of it is getting a little dated, but still very interesting.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book on the U.S. space program, with lots of information on Skylab and the space shuttle.

[Eric Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of interesting and fun facts/trivia about space flight. Since it was published in 1991, some stuff are out of date (like using space shuttles).

[Jolene Knighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

answers a lot of questions about life in space

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Factual. Informative.