Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

By: Mary Roach  

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Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Stiff is an oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For two thousand years, cadavers—some willingly, some unwittingly—have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. They've tested France's first guillotines, ridden the NASA Space Shuttle, been crucified in a Parisian laboratory to test the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin, and helped solve the mystery of TWA Flight 800. For every new surgical procedure, from heart transplants to gender reassignment surgery, cadavers have been there alongside surgeons, making history in their quiet way.

In this fascinating, ennobling account, Mary Roach visits the good deeds of cadavers over the centuries—from the anatomy labs and human-sourced pharmacies of medieval and nineteenth-century Europe to a human decay research facility in Tennessee, to a plastic surgery practice lab, to a Scandinavian funeral directors' conference on human composting. In her droll, inimitable voice, Roach tells the engrossing story of our bodies when we are no longer with them.

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
A great read for any forensic medicine professional in training. - I can't believe this book is selling for less than $10. Stiff is filled with historical facts and tons of information about how we do things now and the journey we took to get here. The author is a woman who went through great strides to write this book - she is very well versed and has a few experiences under her belt that even most of those in the field of forensics don't have. I'm only half way through the book, but I've already learned so much! So far, she has told of her adventures at the Tennessee Body Farm and some kind of surgical race to do...certain things. Which reminds me: this book is NOT for the squeamish. She goes into great detail on body decomposition, anatomy, embalming process, and the history of modern-day organ donating. It will probably not be a good read for those under 13 also for some sexual content (it is the human body after all and many strange things happen after death). Anyway, back to the author. I like her because she always manages to put a smirk on my face. She has so many weird tidbits of info and just her outlook and the comments she makes is enough to do me in. I recommend this book to those who want to go into medicine, forensic medicine, embalming, funeral directing, anatomists, or the just plain curious. Good read and a STEAL at this price!!!

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Absolutely Fascinating - Excellent, easy to follow writing style with a mix of humor and respect for the subject. Stiff is a fascinating, informative book that I would highly recommend for anyone with an interest in death and dying.

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
More approachable than you'd think . . . - Sometimes you just have to give a book a try, and certainly this one will spark your curiosity. I found Mary Roach's commentary on her investigation so funny, I actually laughed out loud. The book definitely has some gross descriptions, but Roach amazingly manages to maintain dignity for the deceased. Her tongue-in-cheek comments really have more to do with her own experience or with society's response to death. Another approachable thing about the book is that it's written in distinct chapters, so you can skip around. I chose to skip the one, "Beyond the Black Box"--I fly to frequently to want that in the back of mind at 30,000 feet.

Customer Review: 4 out of 5
Strange, funny and interesting - I learned a lot in this book plus laughed a little. Not for those that have a weak stomach.

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Great reading! - I got a lot of strange looks when people saw me reading this book, but I've got to tell you, it was so captivating that I could not put it down and I wanted everyone I knew to read it. Death is not something to fear, and this book really opened my eyes and showed me that it is selfish in death not to give something back to the living. To allow for your body to teach lessons and to prolong life for others, that is truly the greatest thing that one can do. The body really is just a shell, and once we don't need it, why waste it?

I had two relatives who both donated their cadavers to medical science, because in life they had been medical doctors and realized the importance of medical research and the gift of anatomical donation. I respected their decision. I currently have two terminally ill relatives, one of whom is suffering from a very rare neurological disease called supranuclear palsy, and because of STIFF, my family members have all agreed to donating her brain in hopes that her brain and the research that they will conduct upon it can save lives and broaden medical knowledge.

This book is excellently written, it's entertaining, and it's also incredibly earnest. Life is a terminal illness, and we're all headed the same way, and you can either fear death, or welcome the inevitable with open arms and leave behind some lessons for the living.

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