Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
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Book Reviews of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Book Review: Funny and Disturbing
Summary: 5 Stars
Roach has done a brilliant job addressing what can be a very sensitive subject in a respectful, but entertaining manner. This book takes a look at what can happen to your body after you die should you decide to donate your remains to science. It also includes plenty of information on what happens to you if you decide not to donate and just be buried or cremated.
Covering subjects such as the location of the soul, human crash test dummies, forensic crime solving techniques and military testing, Roach presents the information in a very 'matter of fact' way. However, there are plenty of humorous moments and given the subject matter, you may find yourself wondering whether or not you should laugh! But there is nothing disrespectful in the humour and you will find yourself having a quiet little giggle every couple of pages (just don't laugh on the bus if other people can see the title of the book or they may think you are a little weird!)
The only negative I can find about this book is the descriptions of the experiments that have been undertaken on animals throughout history. This is not the fault of the author, as the information is relevant, however I found the information quite upsetting. Roach's disapproval of these experiments is evident, however if you are a particularly sensitive soul and find this type of information upsetting, I suggest you approach this book with caution.
Book Review: So what really happens after you die?
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is just plain awesome. Ever wanted to know anything about cadavers? This is the book for you. You will probably even find out way more than you wanted to. You find out what may happen to you if you donate your body to science (it can be way more interesting than a boring old dissection lab, let me tell you); what happens during the embalming process (I'm skipping that myself), cremation, and the future (maybe?) of disposing of cadavers; what can happen in a plane crash; and what exactly a cadaver's role in bullets and bombs really is. If nothing else, the book will force you to think about what you want to happen to your body after you've exited it (Roach has much more tact and respect than I do).
I found this to be absolutely fascinating. If I hadn't have decided weeks before what to do with my body after I'm gone, I probably would have gone for donating it to science after reading this. It can really be put to good use for countless others.
So back to the book--I found it to be really great and chock full of fun facts that my family and co-workers really wished I kept to myself. I don't get grossed out often, but if you have a weak stomach, you may have a few problems getting through this one (trust me, I'm very glad that I decided to skip the cannibalism chapter during lunch and come back long after I had any feeling of food remaining in my tummy). Really great read.
Book Review: Useful (or not) Knowledge
Summary: 5 Stars
My daughter Vicki recommended this book to me. She works in the medical community and thought it was great. I agree whole-heartedly.
One of the Amazon reviews I read had mentioned the word "boring". I would sure like to meet this person as they must be one strange dude. Every single page was fascinating and informative. I consider myself a well rounded autodidact. Well...Mary Roach just took me to school again!
At around 300 pages and 12 compelling chapters I was sad to see it end. While the writing was first rate - the humor top drawer and the selection of topics spot on, I was mostly impressed with the huge amount of knowledge that can be gleamed from these pages. While it may not be useful knowledge nevertheless it is so interesting that I can virtually guarantee that a reader will be pleasantly surprised if they happen to pick up this book.
I also enjoyed the book by Dr. Bill Bass - Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead Do Tell Tales and the fiction work Body of Lies (Eve Duncan)
I hope you find my opinion helpful.
Michael L. Gooch
Author of Wingtips with Spurs
Book Review: Stiff
Summary: 5 Stars
Mary Roach has written about a difficult topic (the "life" of a human cadaver) with humor, in an interesting style which keeps the reader engaged, not wanting to put the book down. If one is curious, and likes learning new facts, plenty in this book to satisfy this need. If you seek knowledge about how research on cadavers can help to save lives for the living--this is your book. Personally, for me, these two factors were the strongest reasons for my liking the book--it will be one of my favorites for 2011.
If I were contemplating this book, I would think about how I felt about death, and the process of dying first. If the idea horrifies, don't read it. If you can't bear to read about autopsy, dissection or decomposition, don't read this. Although I am 73, so statistically closer to death than many reading this, in multiple ways, I thought it a comforting book about the process, strangely enough, and perhaps other readers would agree. May want to make the reader contemplate anatomical donation as a choice, which is a good thing. Thousands of lives have been saved, for instance, though research with motor vehicle crashes, using cadavers, to institute safety devices, or build safer cars. Surgeon's skills are improved through use of cadavers for new techniques. And, so many other ways that our bodies can be successfully utilized, that Mary Roach tells us about.
Book Review: Great reading!
Summary: 5 Stars
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.