Fartology: The Extraordinary Science behind the Humble Fart

by Stefan Gates

What is a fart? Do all creatures fart? Why do farts smell? Why do we find them so embarrassing ... and so darned funny?! Broadcaster and obsessive fartologist Stefan Gates tackles these pressing issues in Fartology, the first ever book to take a comprehensive, scientific look at the body's extraordinary methane-making abilities. Stefan looks at the journey from food to fart; the weird science behind intestinal gas; the sounds, smells and all things in between. With farty recipes, musings on the greatest farters in history, farts in literature, and fart euphemisms, Fartology offers mind-blowing, trouser-exploding fun for all the family.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Popular Science

144 pages, Hardcover

Published September 17, 2019

Reviews

[Marianne MacRae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gross, but interesting! Slightly repetitive at times, but a nice quick read on a topic we should all have a vested interest in, haha!

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

For starters, this book is not for the ‘Easily Offended’. If toilet humour isn't your thing, this book might not be enjoyable. ‘Fartology’ by Stefan Gates is a hilarious yet surprisingly informative deep dive into the science, history, and cultural significance of farting. Gates, a food and science journalist known for making quirky topics engaging, explores the biological mechanisms behind flatulence, its social taboos, and even its potential as a renewable energy source. With wit and scientific accuracy, Fartology turns an often-ignored bodily function into a fascinating subject.

The Science of Farts – Explains how the digestive system produces gas, why some foods cause more flatulence, and the chemistry behind different fart smells.

1. The History of Farting – Traces how farts have been viewed throughout history, from ancient Greece to modern pop culture.

2. The Social Impact of Farts – Discusses why farts are considered embarrassing in some cultures while celebrated in others.

3. Animal Farts – A fun section exploring which animals fart the most (and which ones don’t).

4. Farting in Space – Examines how astronauts deal with flatulence in zero gravity.

5. Farts and Energy – Explores how methane from flatulence and other sources is being studied for energy production.

Gates writes with a lighthearted, engaging tone that makes even the most technical aspects of digestion and gas production accessible. The book is filled with fun anecdotes, scientific studies, and witty observations that keep the reader entertained while delivering real knowledge. Gates combines humor with actual science, making the topic both entertaining and educational. The wide-ranging scope of the book covers history, biology, culture, and even space travel in relation to farting.

This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys quirky science, uncanny trivia, or just a good laugh. Stefan Gates takes a comprehensively relevant yet underexplored subject and turns it into an amusing and educational journey. Whether you’re a science buff, a trivia lover, or just someone who finds fart jokes funny, this book is worth checking out.

[Hayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weirdly scientific and did make me lol at some points, not sure whether that was because I was reading it at 1am or not though. Some really interesting and not overly scientific content, marked it down because a) the author clearly has a YouTube channel which is mentioned SO MANY TIMES throughout the book and b) there's a chapter towards the end which is basically a repeat of the first. All in all, a good light hearted and quick read

[Dana Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and you'll definitely learn things about farting (and the GI system, in general). Some of the science is presented without much background, so how much you get out of the book might depend on your science background, but it's still an entertaining read for anyone.

[Cloay · Rating 3 out of 5]

- available in SG NLB 612.3 (Sengkang

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally got this book as a gag gift, but it turned out to be quite interesting! Includes recipes and at-home science experiments. The neon orange text was a bit hard to see.

[Mike Cross · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little book that is easy to read. Probably everything that can be said about the subject and then some. This might have just been a long magazine article, really.

[Wishwas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bizarre, funny but also a scientifically sound book! Worth a read!

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun.

Read purely for research purposes!