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: Who Doesn't Like Dead Bodies?
Summary: 5 Stars
Or who doesn't after reading this book? Roach is an amazing writer. She approaches this delicate subject with a good balance of humor, respect, and enthusiasm, and the reader can't help but be absorbed immediately.
Each chapter is spent discussing a possible "life" for a human cadaver. There are many expected courses, such as anatomy dissections and cremations, but also many unexpected courses, such as crash test dummy calibrator, ballistics assistant, compost, and ingredient for folk (and snake oil-type) remedies. If you are extremely squeamish, you may be well-advised to avoid this book, but chances are, if you are extremely squeamish, you're not interested anyway. Roach does a good job, however, of not immersing the reader in overly disgusting descriptions (at one point, she decides the word "maggot" is not very nice, so she refers to them instead as "haciendas"). She simply presents the facts as they are.
Roach has researched her subject extremely thoroughly and I came away with a treasure trove of fascinating facts (now I just have to figure out how to drop them into conversation!). One of the best aspects of the book is Roach's writing. She is hilarious, and I found myself laughing out loud in every chapter. This was an excellent, intriguing book, and I can't wait to read her next book, Spooks!
Book Review: Who knew?
Summary: 5 Stars
As one of the people in this book says, it's "very important to feel I'm not crazy" for thoroughly enjoying this book. Who knew how many dead bodies are still contributing to society in such diverse areas as automobile safety, crime and punishment, religion, gardening, and nutrition?
Mary Roach has written an informative and entertaining book about the acquisition and use of cadavers from history to modern times. The first four chapters - "A Head is a Terrible Thing to Waste," "Crimes of Anatomy," "Life After Death," and "Dead Man Driving" - are hilarious but tender as well, mixed in with references to the death of the author's mother and reactions of the people working with corpses. What's most impressive is how she manages to be comical without ever being disrespectful toward these bodies. Maybe it's not possible to re-animate the dead as discussed in one chapter, but she was able to humanize them.
Readers can potentially take comfort from chapter eight, which makes it clear that your death can now be confirmed, and chapter nine, which gives hope to those who would consider a head transplant in order to live forever. After finishing this book, I wouldn't say that I'm looking forward to becoming a cadaver but I may not feel so much dread when the time is near.
Book Review: A great read for any forensic medicine professional in training.
Summary: 5 Stars
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!!!Book Review: Deadly Funny
Summary: 5 Stars
Probably the only book of it's kind. Firstly, the theme - Cadavers - is understandbly not common. Next, a non-fiction book geared towards the common lay reader is most likely not around. Reading about cadavers may seem grim and deathly and geared towards the "whacky" (or at the worst sicko)minds. But, WAIT!! Thats simply not the case with "Stiff". This is an awesome read.
Each of the twelve chapters are different and equally engaging. Now, you may ask what's engaging in reading about Cadavers or dead people? Well, there's more to dead people than ghosts or the average nighttime murder mystery. Seriously, this book exposed me to the many "choices" which awaits the dead and more
importantly, how useful the dead turn out to be to the society. Don't crib! You are an unwitting beneficiary of the dead too. The Safety mechanisms in your car were most likely improved by testing on a cadaver; The advances in neuro science can be attributed to some of the xperiments on the dead; the growing cosmetic-surgery industry practices on cadavers.. the list is simply long.
Back to the book - it doesn't adopt any posture. Rather, this is a witty read. The Author is remarkably talented and has a way with words.
Do not miss this one!!
Book Review: 'Stiff' is a very lively read
Summary: 5 Stars
Composed almost as an amalgamation of magazine articles, 'Stiff' is an informative journey into what each one of us will have to face: Death.
Well, not exactly. Stiff pertains to what happens after you die and not necessarily what causes death (thought the chapter on plane crashes is a little too real for my taste).
And, to that extent, it is a great book. Mary Roach is both tactful and hilarious in her depiction of the dead. Her assiduous research helps to strengthen an already stellar bit of writing. Without her constant data, one might find her style tongue-in-cheek or flippant.
To reiterate her point, there is nothing funny about death, and, really, neither is there anything truly funny about cadavers. But the cover says it best: what happens to us after we die is curious. If you can suspend your abhorrence that far, then Mary Roach will have you hooked after that.
I'll admit, reading a book on 'decedents' is a trifle morbid, but it is also enthralling, especially since it is so well-written. The only shortcoming in the book is that it does not offer solace to those who want to find some kind of comfort in death.
But, then again, that's not really the author's job here.