Stiff

The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

By: Mary Roach

Narrated by: Shelly Frasier

Length: 8 hrs

Publisher's summary

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.

©2003 Mary Roach (P)2003 Tantor Media, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Alex Award Winner, 2004

"Uproariously funny....informative and respectful...irreverent and witty....impossible to put down." (Publishers Weekly)
"Not grisly but inspiring, this work considers the many valuable scientific uses of the body after death." (Library Journal)
"One of the funniest and most unusual books of the year." (Entertainment Weekly)

Very interesting!

This book is great for those who aren't squeamish and have given any thought at all to the bodies that have been donated for science (and other unusual uses). I am in a forensics program and have also worked on human cadavers, and I found it fascinating how almost every chapter had been touched upon throughout my studies, but the author gives it such a unique perspective and makes it truly engaging. Even in my field, I was still surprised to find out how many jobs a cadaver could do, and also the history and the difficulties in the past of obtaining human remains at all. If I didn't have so many other books I have been wanting to get to, I'd be in the midst of listening to this one again.

For those who relish “more than I ever thought I would know

Not for the squeamish or faint of heart, this is a great listen. Loved the writing and the narrator. Lots of information that I never thought about very much.

Not your typical read...but so much better!

I am so glad I got this book! The title/topic drew me in first...then it was the sample...then the reviews...I couldn't resist. I make a 9 hour car trip from Buffalo, NY to Ocean City, MD to visit my mother and this book kept me wide awake and totally interested! I never thought there was so much to learn about the human body after death. This book is not gross or gruesome but rather informative and interesting. I would recommend this book hands down!

Fascinating

Mary Roach is always a fun writer and she does it again. Absolutely fascinating and engaging.

No bones about it

I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book: the writing, the story and the narration. What to do next? Decide how I want my remains handled when the time comes. If exploring such options are not something you feel comfortable with, you probably won't like this book.

different and delightful book. A very good read .

Where does Stiff rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have also read the book, and it is great to listen to in the car on a trip. You learn all kinds of things you never knew before.

Who was your favorite character and why?

So many good stories in a book that sounds yuccie.

Very interesting and enjoyable

I really enjoyed this book. The author’s light style of writing took a topic that can be difficult to discuss and made it accessible. Although parts of the book were amusing, the tone was always respectful. Very enjoyable and fascinating – made me rethink what I want to do with my body after death.

Awesome Book

Anyone who has wondered how criminalists, CSIs, cops or any first responders can do that job - an obviously fascinating concern to television viewers - will find this book nearly impossible to pause. I will definitely read other Mary Roach books to see if her humor related to such abnormalcies carries on. Ms. Frasier's read actually makes me feel much better about our impending demise. We won't go to waste!

Very interesting read!

I picked this book because it has been recommended to me by a couple friends and it looked like it was sufficiently macabre for my tastes. It did not disappoint!
Mary Roach addresses both the physical aspects of death and how we, as a society, deal with it. She definitely doesn’t shy away from the gross parts, but she also highlights how amazing the process of death is. She’s very witty and entertaining, and the book leaves you with a whole new appreciation for death. I would definitely recommend.

The jokes are not funny

The content is interesting. The forced jokes and attempt by the author to be funny are not. It's like being at a stand up show watching the comedian throw out one liners that just fall flat. They lines don't even make you smile, it's just like, "really?" In my opinion. it would have been a much better book if the jokes had been left out. Yes ,I get that she was trying to make a heavy topic lighter. For me, it just missed the mark. You might like it.