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)

funny and informative

I loved the narrator and the structure of the book. I learned a lot of cool facts. There does seem to be a blooper in the last chapter where it repeats itself.

Awesome Read

So interesting! Definitely not your typical read but utterly fascinating. I really enjoyed hearing of all the history as well as the options you have for your body after death. There are several bits that are not for the squeamish, but the reader’s matter-of-fact tone and wry expression get you through it. Definitely a strong recommendation to read this - well worth the credit!

Fascinating!

I have enjoyed this book; learned a lot and have to turn it off when my husband comes in the room. Creeps him out! The reader does a great job of displaying the curiousity and occasional UGH moments of the author.

May be too morbid for some

What did you love best about Stiff?

May be morbid for some, I chose this book because I am a physical therapist and benefitted during my school from use of a cadaver and have a clinical interest in the human body. I enjoyed learning some of the processes of human decomp and some of the types of injuries received in the variety of accidents. Could have totally skipped the section on how people used various cadaver parts, excrement, etc., for various cures and rituals. Overall, it was ok, narrator did a good job, but this book may not be for you if you are squeamish.

Would you be willing to try another book from Mary Roach? Why or why not?

Yes

What does Shelly Frasier bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice brings an intimate feel to the story.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

I enjoyed some interesting facts I learned: like your skin sloughs off your hands first after your dead, or that one of the main reasons you die in a high velocity impact is that your aorta tears because it is somewhat fixed and your heart is swinging freely, or that they can figure out where you were in a plane crash depending on how much clothes your body was found wearing.

Any additional comments?

Not a book for everyone.

Dealing with Death

I learned.

Sometimes that is all I want from a reading, and I got it here. I was also entertained. She is not as clever as Bill Bryson or Sarah Vowell, two who make a living on enlightening while entertaining, but she can at least be mentioned in the same sentance as them.

One disappointment, perhaps because of a deadline, is that little is said about plastination-- the process of turning body tissue into plastic. I saw the controversial show in Denver of posed plastinated bodies and it was amazing. She mentions an earlier show in Europe but obviously didn't see it. It is too bad, because this is the biggest thing to happen to the corpse in decades.

Deliciously sarcastic

What did you love best about Stiff?

I loved the approach it gave to such an odd subject.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the author's sarcasm and the narrator's ability to duplicate it perfectly.

What does Shelly Frasier bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice is unique. I think that I would enjoy reading the book but its more enjoyable as an audio book.

Not as creepy as you would expect from cadavers

Mary Roach does an excellent job of tackling this "taboo" topic in a respectful and informative way.

This book was a gem - totally surprised me.

If you could sum up Stiff in three words, what would they be?

Informative Funny and Unexpected

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The subject matter was corpses - how much more compelling could you be.

Which character – as performed by Shelly Frasier – was your favorite?

Mary Roach in all her interviews and outings, especially the body farm!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Dead but not DONE!

Perfect and funny

Would you listen to Stiff again? Why?

yes, very interesting and there is so much info that I don't believe anyone can get that listening one time. I am listening to it again.

Any additional comments?

read it! it is worth it

Learn what happens to us after death

Stiff is a very complete, informative, mostly unemotional story of researching what happens to human bodies after death from the normal to the weird, religious to scientific, old to futuristic means of processing dead human remains. Not for the faint of heart, but very much for the curious. Check out Stiff if you want to know more and had questions about certain means of processing dead human remains, it will enlighten (not in the religious sense) and educate you.