Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by mary roach

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

REREAD 2023

Oh my goodness! This reading experience was filled with moments of "omg" and pure grossness. I made the unfortunate mistake of attempting to eat while delving into this. It was an absolute no-go!

There was a part where they discussed the use of leftover skin for wrinkle-related purposes and something concerning penises. I didn't even bother to look up the specific word they used. However, now, if a penis were to suddenly appear in a certain context, I couldn't help but wonder if it had any connection to cadaver skin!

Due to my strong "ewww" reflex, I did have to skip over some parts. But despite that, I managed to learn a great deal of things that I had no prior knowledge of. There was also a significant amount of historical information.

And those cadaver drive test dummies! I can't even begin to imagine. So, if you're someone who plans to donate your organs, just be aware that no part of your body will be wasted. Well, for the most part!

Mel

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Gamesaucer

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Morbid-ish.

It's an interesting read, to say the least. The idea of a person ending up in a place where bodies are studied in their putrefaction ways is both scary and thought-provoking. Is it really respectful to the deceased? I'm not sure I could handle that kind of thing, but it does make for an engaging topic.

Reading this on public transport could be even more fun if you wrap it in a fake cover with some demented or apocryphal titles. For example, 'Proctological delights', 'Sacrificing virgins' (yes, there's actually a book with this title!), '101 penis-lengthening tips' (and there are several real books on this subject too!), 'How to rule the universe without attracting the attention of the psychiatrists', 'Where one can wash on the underground', 'So, you have leprosy, what next?', 'Ritual Satanism', 'Human taxidermy' (and there are many books on this creepy topic), 'Chess and sex edu for teens', 'Hiding your boner from God', 'How to tell your wife you're a serial killer', 'Boobs and how to grow them', 'How to drink daily, smoke weed, fuck random people, stop worrying and influence people'.

There are also some real books with eye-boggling headings, such as 'How to Avoid a Wombat's Bum', 'How to avoid huge ships', 'Do It Yourself Brain Surgery', 'How to avoid sex', 'How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You', 'Confessions of a Pagan Nun', 'Greek rural postmen and their cancellation numbers', the whole lot about the 'nude mice', 'Six-Legged Sex: The Erotic Lives Of Bugs', 'The Sex Lives of Saints: An Erotics of Ancient Hagiography', 'How To Shit In The Woods', 'Where No One Can Hear You Scream', 'How To Shit Around the World', 'Old Tractors and the Men Who Love Them', 'Big And Very Big Hole Drilling', 'Proctology Treasure', 'Living with Crazy Buttocks', 'Teaching the dog to read', 'Teaching the dog to think', 'How to Tell Your Friends from the Apes', 'How To Tell Your Cat About Trump', 'HOW TO TELL YOUR WIFE OR GIRLFRIEND THAT YOU ARE A CROSSDRESSER', 'Ass eating made simple', and other fun stuff.

This book might just be the perfect addition to that list of weird and wonderful reads. ~~And yes, I'll admit it, I have a bit of a thing for collecting this kind of stuff.~~

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vercritrux

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Loved this one!

Mary Roach has truly managed to bring a sense of enjoyment to the macabre in this extremely educational book. It delves into everything you ever wanted (and perhaps some things you didn't want to) know about the life of a cadaver.

Packed with laugh-out-loud humour and interesting facts on every single page, it's a book that keeps you engaged from start to finish. As you approach the end, you'll find yourself feeling a tinge of sadness because you don't want this fascinating journey to come to an end.

So, do yourself a favour and check this book out. Discover all about the exciting life that your own body could potentially have after death. It's a unique and captivating read that will leave you with a new perspective on the cycle of life and death.

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guyontrain

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

What exactly occurs to our bodies once we pass away?

When Mary Roach delves into this subject, one thing is certain - you are bound to acquire a wealth of knowledge about it, and it will be an engaging journey (despite the morbidity).

Weaving together one captivating story after another, while incorporating numerous facts from scientific studies and interviews with researchers, this book explores in-depth the various uses and experiences that a body can have once it is no longer that of a living person. Roach discusses organ donation, full body donation (for educational and research purposes), as well as less conventional "uses" like cannibalism and mummification. She approaches all these topics with great respect for the remains of those involved, yet also with her unique brand of humor. This makes a rather sensitive and prickly subject easy to understand and, at times, even turns it into a matter that can make you laugh out loud.

Certainly not a book for everyone, but it is truly a remarkable one that is at times hilarious, revolting, startling, and never boring. It offers a fascinating perspective on a topic that is often overlooked or avoided.

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Ballista

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Wow, this book was truly an eye-opener. It was extremely informative, delving into various aspects that I had never really considered before. I learned about the practice of performing surgery on the dead, which made me wonder if those who selflessly donate their bodies to science are aware that they might potentially end up being used for something like a face-lift practice.

The tales of body snatching and other sordid events from the early days of human dissection were quite interesting. It gave me a glimpse into a darker side of scientific exploration.

The discussions on human decay and possible solutions to deal with it were also captivating. It made me think about the natural processes that our bodies go through after death.

The topic of human crash test dummies and the necessary but ghastly science of impact tolerance was very interesting. Understanding how the bodies of passengers can tell the story of a crash was both fascinating and a little disturbing.

However, some chapters were more difficult to stomach. The crucifixion experiments, for example, were truly disturbing. It was hard to read about the pain and suffering that was inflicted.

The chapter on decapitation, reanimation, and human head transplants was disgusting. The horrific experiments done on animals, such as giving them multiple heads, cutting them in half and sewing them back together, and performing head transplants, were truly appalling.

The chapter on medicinal cannibalism and the case of the human dumplings was also quite revolting. It was concerning that Mary seemed to have no problem with it.

On a more positive note, the chapter on the remains of the author was quite thought-provoking. Mary explored different options that one can choose for their body after death, which made me reflect on my own views.

Overall, this was a fascinating book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I learned a great deal from it. Mary Roach has a wonderful sense of humor and appears to be quite fearless in her exploration of these topics. That being said, while I have a relatively high tolerance for body grossness, I do have my limits when it comes to cruelty and animal experimentation.

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kb2r

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

A Delightfully Macabre Romp Through Death

Mary Roach has accomplished something truly remarkable. She has taken the topic of cadavers, which many of us find uncomfortable or even terrifying, and turned it into a subject that is not only fascinating but also frequently funny and, against all odds, kind of endearing. "Stiff" is like a one-way ticket to the weirdest afterparty imaginable. Here, the guest of honor may not be talking, but boy, do they have stories to tell!

Roach leads us on a journey through the many unexpected ways our bodies continue to serve science long after we've passed away. From surgical training tables to crash test dummies, from forensic body farms to headless reanimation experiments (yes, you read that right!), she spares no detail. Her research is both rigorous and delightfully irreverent. She has no hesitation in poking around (sometimes quite literally) in places that most people would rather pretend don't exist.

Whether she's delving into the strange world of 16th-century medicinal cannibalism or revealing the secrets of how ancient Egyptians devised their honey-coated preservation methods, every page of "Stiff" is filled with equal parts curiosity and dark humor. Roach's signature wit is what elevates this book from just another run-of-the-mill book about death to a hilariously offbeat and surprisingly touching meditation on the meaning of having a body and what happens when we no longer need it.

If you've ever been strangely attracted to the smell of formaldehyde or secretly wished you could follow a mortician around for a day, then "Stiff" is the book for you. It's not just a read; it's an experience. You'll never look at a crash test dummy or a preserved medical specimen in the same way again. And that, my friends, is a very good thing!

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jonatganofficial

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I'm not entirely certain how to rate this book.

Personally, I truly had a difficult time with it. It took me an extremely long time to complete. "Stiff" is simply not the typical kind of book I would choose. Although I was intrigued by the subject matter and not overly squeamish, the scientific aspects of it made it a struggle for me to get through.

That being said, Mary Roach is incredibly witty and humorous. She managed to take something that was dry and rather gross and transform it into a great book. At no point did I actually want to give up reading this book. I just had to come to terms with the fact that I would have to read it in small increments.

And while "Stiff" is not a book I would ever read again, I think she did an outstanding job with it. I have no doubt that those with a scientific mindset will absolutely love this book.

So, I ultimately settled on a 3.5 star rating, which I rounded up to 4.

**P.S. - For the record, I do NOT want my body donated to science.

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therealkale

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

A humorous look at the life of cadavers. Yes, cadavers. Who would have thought that this could be a topic worthy of writing about?

Mary Roach clearly did extensive research for this book. It is filled with a wealth of information regarding how cadavers are utilized in numerous fields of research and testing. She is also very sharp-witted, which makes this otherwise morbid and potentially nauseating topic much more bearable. Each chapter details a distinct aspect of the use of cadavers, ranging from plastic surgery practice to research on the Shroud of Turin to determining the force level of a windshield required to crack a skull. Isn't it interesting?

This book is recommended for anyone who has an interest in unusual research techniques, historical investigations, and a somewhat morbid sense of humor. It offers a unique perspective on a topic that is often overlooked or avoided. Through Roach's engaging writing style, readers can learn about the important role that cadavers play in advancing scientific knowledge and understanding.

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Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

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