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: Stiff
Summary: 4 Stars
The cultural ideas surrounding death and the disposal of bodies are far more transient than modern American funeral rites would lead people to believe. From cremation to mummification, to burial within the floors of churches or seclusion to remote cemeteries, societies are constantly trying to find the "right" answer to the question of how to dispose of their dead. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers examines the recent history of one of those solutions - donation.
As a reporter, Mary Roach is able to offer her audiences a unique perspective on the process and outcomes of various forms of body disposal; while she very clearly supports the idea of body donation, she herself is not involved in the field (as a scientist, doctor, or mortuary professional), which allows her to give her readers a layman's view of what really happens when an individual wills their remains to science - and what could be happening in the future.
Stiff is easy to read, and Roach's lighthearted voice allows readers to chuckle at one of the most difficult emotional decisions individuals will have to make (for themselves or a loved one). While there is a narrative tendency to wander away from the immediate subject, the material presented in the numerous asides is as interesting as the initial subject at hand, and actually serves to give readers an emotional break, the lack of which may be detrimental to the objective and humorous tone that is intended. I highly recommend it.
Book Review: The Secret Lives of Dead People
Summary: 5 Stars
Where has this book been all my life? :) As someone interested in this sort of thing (death, the funeral industry, forensics), I was surprised that I had not heard of this book until recently. And I must say that it was exactly what I expected it to be.
Roach takes a look at how corpses serve a purpose after death - their "life after life." From serving as med school gross anatomy tools or crash test "dummies," human cadavers can play important roles in the work of scientists, doctors, and engineers in their collective quest to keep the living safe and healthy. The ultimate cadaver "job" is that of organ donor - a single individual can save the lives of multiple living recipients.
But Roach doesn't just cover the "typical" cadaveric endeavors. She describes a visit to the "Body Farm" at the University of Tennessee, where cadavers (placed in various outdoor conditions) help scientists advance the field of forensic science. She also discusses other methods for preserving (plastination, as used in the work of the man behind the "Body Worlds" exhibits) and disposing of bodies (liquification, fertilizer), including a few taboo subjects (cannibalism).
Overall, this book is tremendously entertaining; Roach is a very funny writer, but she manages to still respect her, um, subjects. Probably not a good book for the squeamish, though - especially the chapter on decay (don't ask about the "haciendas").
Book Review: Things you never knew you wanted to know
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is tied for first as my favorite book of all time. This book is informative, educational, and exceptionally well-cited. Beyond that, it is an easy and conversational read. The best parts (there are two) about this book are that a) it might be the funniest thing I have ever read. Yes, its about cadavers - whole ones, pieces of them, ones that are buried, burned or chemically digested, dismantled for research or organ donation - but Roach has an uncanny and remarkable sense of humor about the whole thing. I literally laughed out loud at several points during the book - this is not just something they put on the book jacket as a sales pitch. If you wish to be amused, pick this up. And b) my second favorite thing about this book is that it provides a new starting place for deciding about the way in which I wish to dispense with my own remains. She provides information about organ donation, donation of bodies to science, donation of brains, and the nitty-gritty of what happens to the body depending on which more traditional disposal method one selects. I'll spare you the details of my own decision about this, but suffice it to say, this book has given me a whole new set of things to think about. This book doesn't have to move you or impact your life or decision-making, but it can.
In all, a fantastic reading experience that I recommend to anyone with a sense of humor and even the slightest bit of morbid curiosity.
Book Review: Funny and Disturbing
Summary: 5 Stars
Roach has done a brilliant job addressing what can be a very sensitive subject in a respectful, but entertaining manner. This book takes a look at what can happen to your body after you die should you decide to donate your remains to science. It also includes plenty of information on what happens to you if you decide not to donate and just be buried or cremated.
Covering subjects such as the location of the soul, human crash test dummies, forensic crime solving techniques and military testing, Roach presents the information in a very 'matter of fact' way. However, there are plenty of humorous moments and given the subject matter, you may find yourself wondering whether or not you should laugh! But there is nothing disrespectful in the humour and you will find yourself having a quiet little giggle every couple of pages (just don't laugh on the bus if other people can see the title of the book or they may think you are a little weird!)
The only negative I can find about this book is the descriptions of the experiments that have been undertaken on animals throughout history. This is not the fault of the author, as the information is relevant, however I found the information quite upsetting. Roach's disapproval of these experiments is evident, however if you are a particularly sensitive soul and find this type of information upsetting, I suggest you approach this book with caution.
Book Review: So what really happens after you die?
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is just plain awesome. Ever wanted to know anything about cadavers? This is the book for you. You will probably even find out way more than you wanted to. You find out what may happen to you if you donate your body to science (it can be way more interesting than a boring old dissection lab, let me tell you); what happens during the embalming process (I'm skipping that myself), cremation, and the future (maybe?) of disposing of cadavers; what can happen in a plane crash; and what exactly a cadaver's role in bullets and bombs really is. If nothing else, the book will force you to think about what you want to happen to your body after you've exited it (Roach has much more tact and respect than I do).
I found this to be absolutely fascinating. If I hadn't have decided weeks before what to do with my body after I'm gone, I probably would have gone for donating it to science after reading this. It can really be put to good use for countless others.
So back to the book--I found it to be really great and chock full of fun facts that my family and co-workers really wished I kept to myself. I don't get grossed out often, but if you have a weak stomach, you may have a few problems getting through this one (trust me, I'm very glad that I decided to skip the cannibalism chapter during lunch and come back long after I had any feeling of food remaining in my tummy). Really great read.