In her seventh book, Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War, author Mary Roach, the indefatigable and intrepid author of Packing for Mars, Bonk, Stiff, and Spook, investigates how we prepare for war, a regimen that exposes combatants to extremes of temperature, noise, panic, and boredom. Her field work included a stint with the U.S. Marine Corps Paintball Team for a study on hearing loss and survivability, a visit to the U.S. Army Natick Labs to find out what zippers mean to a sniper, and a night on the nuclear submarine USS Tennessee. She also observed amputee actors training medics for the trauma of combat wounds, tasted caffeinated meat, and experienced other staples of boot camp. Roach will be in conversation with Terry Monmaney, deputy editor at Smithsonian magazine.

At Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC. Click here for info.