In Mary Roach's book "Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife," she explores the peculiar ways in which people interpret strange phenomena, such as finding small traces of fecal matter in underwear. Roach suggests that a unique mindset is necessary to view such evidence as anything other than a result of poor hygiene, indicating a type of thinking that may border on the irrational or psychotic.

This commentary highlights the human tendency to seek meaning in the unexplained. Roach uses humor and wit to illustrate how some individuals might ascribe supernatural significance to mundane occurrences, demonstrating the complexities of belief and perception in the context of the afterlife and other scientific inquiries.