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)

Fed my craving

This book really fed my craving for info & opinions on what happens to our bodies after we die & even opened some new options about organ donation etc. .. Enjoyed all of it & was read in a fitting humorous way in accordance with how the author wrote it. MORE!

A great book...for certain listeners!

This book is not for everyone. But...if you enjoy the macabre, the bizarre, and you have a strong stomach, this audiobook is a great listen. Truly hilarious in places. But not for the squeamish. Excellent delivery too.

Full of unusual and entertaining informaiton.

Not a listen for everyone to be sure, but if you're into the Medical field, or are just interested in what happens to you after you pass, or donate your body to medical research........it's facinating, funny, informative, graphic, at times gruesome with a touch of the macabre.

Not for the Squeemish, only the curious.

What a unique book about an off beat and somewhat taboo topic. I love the author's dry humor and the very good delivery and narration. Everything and more, about the human body when it stops working and the way bodies are used in science, medicine, and research. I will be trying more books by this author.

Fascinating

While the subject and some of the content of the book is macabre, it is fascinating. There were times that I thought I ought to give up I couldn't do it. Had to keep going and I'm glad I did. Worth the time.

WARNING: This book IS NOT for the squeamish!

Its a great book, but avoid around meal times

Would you listen to Stiff again? Why?

Some parts, maybe. I was especially intrigued by cannibalism, plastination and grave robbery parts. There is so much more there than what seems to be.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Its hard to say - many interesting characters in there.

What about Shelly Frasier’s performance did you like?

Fantastic - she does a great job of conveying the wry, tongue-in-cheek humor that is scattered around the book. I felt the entire time that she was speaking directly to me of her experience - and created a powerful effect. For that reason I was so effected to feel uncomfortable in some portions of the book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Did not move me - but it did my insides. I am a scientist myself and have performed dissections of dead mammals and birds, but I felt queasy at times myself.

Anthropolgy of Stiff's

Would you try another book from Mary Roach and/or Shelly Frasier?

Yeah, I would as this was recommmended to me by my daughter - an antropolgy undergraduate.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The history is a subject never approached by anybody. I enjoyed the actual conversation on how how a body is dismembered and yet, the people remain very much in touch with both the subject and the studies.

What about Shelly Frasier’s performance did you like?

The realism and candor on the subject matter was done very tastefully and in regard to the topic of Stiff's.

Could you see Stiff being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Absolutely NOT! Not a best seller as this type book caters to a few of us who want knowledge of an unknown topic we do not discuss or ever study.

Any additional comments?

Had this book not been recommended by my daughter, I would never have read it. Tough subject and not for everybody's reading taste.

Very Informative

While dwelling on the thought of our own mortality is difficult for most people this book takes a good dive into what becomes of us after life. Good or bad. Above ground or below it. It's a stimulating read and thorough. A book I will doubt come back too. I am not a squeamish person but a few chapters towards the end were rough. Not from the blood, gore, physical aspect but the emotional one. Take it slow if you find yourself in a sensitive state but know the end result is worth the push through.

Awesome book

This book was so unexpectedly great! Full of such interesting info and so surprisingly funny. Great read!

Humorous and insightful

The author managed to make a very informative book super entertaining. The performance was beautiful, I loved every minute of it!