Stiff
The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
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Stiff
Buy Now for £12.99
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Narrated by:
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Shelly Frasier
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By:
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Mary Roach
About this listen
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.Listeners also enjoyed...
Editor reviews
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)
Interesting and weird
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Full of wit and surprising humor despite such an perceived Macabre topic.
Eagerly looking forward to the next token and the next book to add to my library.
so worth a listen
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and was occasionally horrified by it. Maggots are not my thing, even if you call them hacienda.
This might be my book for Popsugar prompt 2: A debut novel, as it was Roach's first.
What a fascinating journey through the options for your body once you no longer need it. The waste of a body going into the ground or up in smoke has always disturbed me, so I was ready for this book. There are so many way better ways to use the flesh no longer needed by you once you have died---so so many better uses.
This book is probably the only example of Edutainment I have ever really found. Other productions claim to be, but this is the real deal. I laughed, I grimaced and I learnt. Roach is funny but also respectful of her topic. She provides the options with little or no judgement - although I was glad to read we share a shiver and shudder when it comes to maggots.
I liked that Roach managed to be respectful of the process of death and those left behind, but felt that once the mortal coil was shuffled off from, it was then no longer the person it was, and shouldn't be treated as though it was. However, she also concedes that the living left behind are the ones who should get to decide what happens to a body for they have to continue living with that decision.
I particularly loved her idea that cadavers are superheros 'Cadavers are our superheroes. They brave fire without flinching, withstand falls from tall buildings and head-on car crashes into walls'
I want my body be a super hero instead of a puff of smoke.
Loved this
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Entertaining and informative. Not at all goulish.
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Would you listen to Stiff again? Why?
Yes, I would. I've always been interested in dead bodies - have always liked the idea of going to work as a mortician or in a funeral home - so I was very engaged throughout the book. Plus, there was so much information, I'm sure I missed some of it the first time round!Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, definitely. The only reason I wouldn't is because of the length.Any additional comments?
I do not recommend listening to the airplane crash testing chapter while flying - like I did. I'm not usually a nervous flyer, but I certainly was on that flight...I'd say that you should listen even if you're not sure you're interested in this. It covers a lot of topics, the narrator is excellent and entertaining, and Mary Roach's writing is funny and bright.
Brilliant
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