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)

Phenomenal book!!

This book was not only informative and thought provoking it was funny! I appreciated that because the subject is sometimes a little much, even for a morbid RN like me. There was a light-heartedness woven in while maintaining respect for the subject. I loved this book so much!!

A new look on your body after death

I love this book! The narration is perfect! It’s funny in the right way without disrespect to any person, dead or alive. I hope this book with open more minds to medical donation of their bodies after death. That you Mary for this enlightening read! I throughly enjoy it! Thank you Shelly for your perfect performance of this read!

Fascinating topic

Loved all the insight. Every gritty detail was amazing. The decomposition chapter was both gross and engrossing (pun intended).

Holy corpse!

This was so interesting to listen to! It was easy to understand and pack full of information that makes you look at your body and the dead in a whole new light. Will read/ listen to more by Mary Roach soon.

Simply amazing

We will all die and our bodies will be useless to us. Mary Roach, with respect and humor, explores the ways cadavers have improved day-to-day living. But Stiff is also a book about what happens to our bodies when we die and the options for disposal of our remains. Burial? Cremation? Compost? You may change your mind after this book. It's the most interesting and entertaining book I've read.

Takes the Gravity Out of Graves!

What made the experience of listening to Stiff the most enjoyable?

Quite enlightening without making me shudder. Just about the time I'd think I might find it hard to listen to certain details, the author adds sensitive humor, I'd laugh, and continue on reading.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

A subject that could have been rather sickening was made to be fascinating, enjoyable, and even downright humorous at times.

Have you listened to any of Shelly Frasier’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to any other Frasier's narrations. But in this book I found it excellent and very appropriate. Made the "reading" of the book on this subject even more enjoyable and tolerable.

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

The diverse uses of dead people. Found the info about the historical views of dead bodies, cremation, and embalming particularly fascinating.

Any additional comments?

Made me want to eat more healthily so I won't be available for use for awhile!

It was good

Would you listen to Stiff again? Why?

Yeah I would, Im sure I didn't catch everything..

What did you like best about this story?

It was really interesting things I didn't know..

Have you listened to any of Shelly Frasier’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I really enjoyed listening to Shelly Frasier..... I will loook for her again!

Life begins and ends and then...

Would you consider the audio edition of Stiff to be better than the print version?

Does Not Apply

What did you like best about this story?

It was very informative and straight forward as you suspect a person dealing with Cadavers might need to be.

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

Never thought really about the fact that we're all mostly liquid and when it's all over that liquid has to go somewhere. If not exposed to a place that can evaporate away the liquid.. there you are a bunch of goop basically.

Any additional comments?

This was a recommendation by my daughter. I am very happy to have listened to it. There is so much to learn in so many venues of life.. and after life I suppose.

I liked it, very interesting and entertaining.

Any additional comments?

I wasn't sure about buying this book when I read some of the previous reviews, but I liked it and will definitely recommended.

Makes for great conversation at cocktail parties!

A very interesting read ! Yes, the subject matter is a bit macabre, but the author treats the cadavars with much respect. Quite interesting to learn about all the ways we've used cadavers to better society.