Carleton journalism professor Sarah Everts released her first book this summer, The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science of Perspiration.
Everts credits her inspiration on the stinky subject to three things, the first being her own personal experiences with excessive perspiration.
“I definitely am on the plus side of sweaters. At the gym, it’s the warmup and I’m reaching for my towel,” Everts said.
This curiosity to figure out why we produce varying amounts of sweat and the mortification some people feel towards their own sweating habits motivated Everts in her research.
As a science journalist, Everts said she began researching the evolutionary biology of sweat because she was intrigued by its uniqueness to human beings and the benefits we receive from it.
“Our ability to sweat and to cool down by sweating is super unique and unusual,” Everts said. “It’s given us this huge advantage and has allowed us to live in all parts of the world because we can cool down while on the run.”
Everts credits her second source of inspiration on the topic to her move to Berlin several years ago. There, she found herself deeply entrenched in sauna culture and the endorphin rush that comes from sweat-based rituals.
Her final source of inspiration came in the form of an email Everts received advertising synthetic sweat packets. Everts said she found herself questioning why anyone would want to buy something that encourages a function we spend so much time and money on trying to avoid.
This synthetic sweat phenomenon became a chapter in her book and a favourite unusual anecdote. Other favourites include a Russian speed dating event where you smell sweaty shirts and match with the one you find most appealing, and the armpit sniffing professional she met in Italy whose job it was to perform tests on the effectiveness of deodorants.
Despite the taboo topic, Everts’ book garnered praise from publications such as Oprah Daily and The New York Times after its publication on July 13. Everts said she is grateful for the recognition that her book has received thus far.
“So many books appear and get published every year and so many of them are incredible. I feel fortunate that mine caught the attention of some editors and got the media attention that it did,” Everts said.
Some of Everts’ colleagues at Carleton have made time to read her book since its publication. Allan Thompson, associate director of Carleton’s school of journalism and communication, said he thought it was thorough and well-researched.
“She has explored virtually every aspect of this topic, one that we generally avoid talking about,” Thompson said. “It’s an exemplary piece of journalistic work where you take a subject and tear it apart completely.”
Everts’ research, which she conducted entirely on her own, took her around the world to explore what sweat means to different cultures. When asked what was next for her, Everts jokingly replied, “I might need to rest!”
However, Everts hinted that her passion for writing and research is already pushing her towards her next adventure as an author.
“I have actually a couple of ideas for books, I think one maybe on the intersection between art and science is my next one,” Everts said.
Featured image by Spencer Colby.
