About Eat, Poop, Die by Joe Roman

Eat, Poop, Die by biologist Joe Roman is a captivating exploration of the unglamorous but vital processes that sustain Earth’s ecosystems. Published by Yale University Press in 2024, this ~288-page paperback reveals how eating, excreting, and dying aren’t just life’s constants—they’re essential ecological forces.

With sharp humor and scientific rigor, Roman takes readers on a journey from microbial waste breakdown to the ecological significance of whale carcasses. He shows how animals move nutrients across landscapes and oceans, influencing climate, biodiversity, and soil health. The book unpacks hidden connections: how salmon runs fertilize forests, how seabird guano built empires, and how predator-prey relationships sustain entire food webs.

Why This Book Stands Out

• Ecological Insight: Science behind digestion, decay, and nutrient cycling explained accessibly
• Witty & Engaging: Academic depth with irreverent charm—smart and genuinely funny
• Eye-Opening Connections: Reveals how life’s “gross” processes sustain global ecosystems
• Perfect Companion Read: Fits alongside The Secret Life of Groceries, Gulp, and Entangled Life

Book Details

• ISBN: 9780300255057
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Year: 2024
• Pages: ~288 (Paperback)
• Genre: Science / Ecology / Biology / Environmental Studies