I’ve read a few other Mary Roach books and was truly enamored with the wonderful blend of science and humor that she so masterfully presents.

However, while this particular book was also good, I found myself less enthralled than usual.

I’m not entirely certain if the reason lies in the subject matter. Several chapters contained information that I was already familiar with through Caitlin Doughty’s works.

Perhaps it’s also because this was the first of Roach’s books and thus might be a bit less polished compared to her later ones.

Overall, it was a 3-star read for me, rather than the 4 - 5 stars that I typically award to her other works.

Nevertheless, I still appreciate Roach’s unique approach and the effort she puts into making science accessible and entertaining.

I look forward to seeing how her writing evolves in her future books.

The way I see it, being dead is not terribly far off from being on a cruise ship. Most of your time is spent lying on your back. The brain has shut down. The flesh begins to soften. Nothing much happens, and nothing is expected of you.

If you read this book, you will undoubtedly have many “ick” moments (especially in the chapter about eating the dead, but there’s also that footnote about necrophilia on page 43...). However, you should have even more laugh-out-loud moments. Maybe a few bemuse-the-other-bus-riders when you groan and laugh simultaneously, especially if they see the cover of the book.

Roach as a writer delights in the subtle twist creeping into the prose, the textual double-take. An excellent example is the first paragraph of Chapter Three. Out behind the University of Tennessee Medical Center is a lovely, forested grove with squirrels leaping in the branches of hickory trees and birds calling and patches of green grass where people lie on their backs in the sun, or sometimes in the shade, depending on where the researchers put them. Isn’t it splendid the way she paints the bucolic scene, so typical of an introductory paragraph? Almost like the copy for a university marketing brochure. And then... you remember what this book is about.

Roach does occasionally rein in her curiosity, but only with an effort, and only after telling us where she almost took us. By that point, we are usually grateful for the mercy. It is easy to imagine her as a child running into the house with a handful of squirming worms asking Mom “Are these good for eating? They tickle your tongue! I saw birds feeding them to their babies! Can I feed them to my little sister?”

I think Mary Roach makes the world a more lively place, and I’m glad she writes this stuff. But don’t read this book while eating, especially not rice crispies or chicken soup.

Man, I truly desired to have a greater liking for this one. However, it seems that I only find science-y and science adjacent things interesting when they occurred at least 80 years ago, perhaps 75. And it has to be presented in terms of how the said science-y stuff affected societal, cultural, and historical aspects. And such things.

I don't know. Yeah.


So, the stuff like the French Revolution and the guillotine was rather fascinating, but the more contemporary stuff bored me to death.

Stuff.

I really wish I could find science more interesting. If only because I had a friend in college who majored in chemical engineering. In my first year out of college, I was engaged in doing customer service nonsense for T-Mobile at a salary slightly higher than the minimum wage. (A BA in history is for the win, bitches!) While in her first year, she was earning $60,000 per year at a very basic job in her field.

FML.

Though, uh, I'm actually very happy for her.

In a Nutshell: This is an outstanding (though slightly outdated) exploration of human cadavers and their diverse contributions to our lives. It far exceeded my expectations! The blurb highlights its funniness, but it's more sardonic than outright hilarious. Some chapters are a bit too gross, yet overall, it's informative and captivating. Animal lovers beware; this won't be an easy read for you. Recommended for those interested in the topic.

One prompt in a reading challenge I'm participating in was 'A nonfiction book about the human body', which was a tough one for me. I have several books on my TBR about human organs and their wonders, so I was confused about which one to choose. As I stared at the prompt, the words 'Human Body' suddenly stood out, literally reminding me of this fascinating book that has been on my list for almost a decade.

'Stiff', a slang term for 'dead body', focuses on the life (or afterlife?) of human cadavers. As the introductory note states, it's about "notable achievements made while dead". We all know how crucial cadavers are in medicine, for surgical training or organ donation. But they've contributed in other areas too.

The book details a wide range of fields where cadavers have played a role, from real-world technology (like ballistics development - the least interesting chapter for me), philosophical queries (Where does the soul lie in your body? - what a mind-boggling question!), to unexpected research topics ("crucifixion cadavers" - aargh!). It's not just about the utilitarian side like medical research and technological development (Cadavers have even made your car safer!), but also the cultural side, including religious beliefs, funeral procedures, historical death investigations, and potential burial options. There are eye-opening insights into how cadavers are procured, treated, and disposed of, both historically and currently.

The blurb calls this book "an often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem." Even Entertainment Weekly tagged it as "one of the funniest and most unusual books of the year....Gross, educational, and unexpectedly sidesplitting." I'm not sure why there's so much emphasis on the comic. Maybe it's to make the book seem less macabre. There is humor in the content, no doubt. The author often inserts her snarky observations, even in the middle of serious anecdotes. While this can be entertaining at times, it also often seems forced and insensitive. I couldn't reconcile the idea of using a facetious style for such a morbid topic.

Just because the approach is dispassionate doesn't mean the topics won't affect you. Many chapters are gross, which is to be expected in a book about the lifeless remains of humans and their decomposition. The first two chapters are okay, but it gets more revolting as you go along. (Ugh - the "medicine" of the 16th and 17th centuries!!) I had a grimace on my face throughout the second half.

As much as the content about certain "uses" of human cadavers was stomach-churning, the details of the animal experiments were the most traumatizing for me.

First read of 2017 complete! It was a truly excellent one - deserving a solid 4.5 stars.

Surprisingly, a book delving into what occurs to our bodies after we pass away can be this captivating. This volume encompasses everything from the truly horrific to the incredibly fascinating aspects. It's not for the faint of heart, yet Roach has done an outstanding job of combining information and humor in a respectful way. This makes it more accessible to a broader audience.

I recently assisted in preparing a funeral plan for my Mother. She is still alive, but it was advisable to prepare in advance to ensure all her wishes are fulfilled and there is no chaos when the time comes to figure out what is desired and where the funds will come from - reducing stress for everyone! After reading this book, I'm not stating that I will go back and change any of our decisions. However, it definitely provided me with numerous thought-provoking points that I wouldn't have considered otherwise. It might have even had an impact on my decision-making process if I had read it before the planning commenced.

After death, the inanimate body persists and something must be done with it. Read this if you want to gain more knowledge!

Side note - This is my second Mary Roach book (I also read Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal), and I found this one a bit more appealing.

3.5 Stars

This rating of 3.5 stars indicates a somewhat above-average experience. It suggests that the product or service in question has several notable qualities, but also has a few areas that could be improved. Perhaps the features are quite good, but there might be a small glitch or inconvenience here and there. The performance is solid, yet not outstanding enough to earn a full 4 or 5 stars. It could be that the design is appealing, but lacks that extra touch of elegance or functionality. Overall, a 3.5-star rating means that it is a decent option, but there is still room for growth and refinement to reach a higher level of excellence. It gives consumers an idea that while it has its merits, it may not be the absolute best choice available, but it could still meet their needs and provide a satisfactory experience.

Fascinating, touching and surprisingly wholesome considering it's about dead bodies.

Many people might think this book is disrespectful. They will argue that there is nothing amusing about being dead.

However, Mary Roach proves them wrong. She brings cadavers into a whole new, sometimes painfully bright, light.

We accompany her as she attends autopsies and medical discussions. Through her eyes, we learn what occurs to bodies as they decompose on the field, beneath the field and in numerous other places.

Roach also provides us with a history lesson. We discover the sordid tales associated with body-snatching and the early medicine's need for anatomically correct models.

We even journey back to ancient Egypt and their secret honey recipe (you'll never view honey the same way again, trust me).

This is one book that you'd have to be "dying" to miss out on. Death doesn't have to be boring.

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Because it's December 29th, I think I can confidently name this as one of my favorite reads of the year.

What truly occurs to us when we pass away? This is indeed one of the great enigmas of life, right up there with the mystery of where all the socks disappear to after being placed in the dryer. I often have the thought that I'll simply go to sleep and never wake up. It's that eternal rest that we all both dread and yet, in a strange way, look forward to, a sort of hands-in-the-air gesture of "I give up". Of course, there are numerous people who hold different views, and it's rather nice to envision the possibility of a splendid afterlife devoid of all our earthly troubles. We have nothing but faith to inform us about what will become of our souls, essence, or whatever one may call it, but the end of our physical bodies isn't a mystery. At least, it isn't a mystery if you're like me, the type who is morbidly curious.

Mary Roach delves into the diverse range of things that happen to human cadavers. In death, we can truly be anything - a sawed-off head for plastic surgeons to practice facelifts and nose jobs, the dissection specimen for a new medical student, a crash-test cadaver, an organ donor, a decomposing experiment in a field in Tennessee, a pile of ash, or an embalmed corpse in a casket. You know what I gleaned from this book? Just how incredibly useful cadavers can be.

Cadavers, in their various forms, have a great deal to reveal to us. The degree of decomposition can precisely determine the time of death and narrow down a murder investigation. Wound patterns and autopsies can disclose precisely how a plane disintegrates in the air. Open-casket funerals can confirm to the bereaved that the deceased is, in fact, deceased and that morticians are truly adept at making the cadavers appear less lifeless. Sometimes I find it challenging to be that useful as a living, breathing human. Consider the number of lives that one cadaver can save through the donation of its various organs. Only in death will some ascend to the status of a superhero.

I repeatedly chanted my "cadavers are USEFUL" mantra while reading this, even during the gruesome parts. Yes, Roach meticulously details the gore, and yes, it is utterly fascinating. You have the opportunity to follow her to an embalming and a tour of a research facility composed entirely of decomposing corpses. Fortunately, Roach has a knack for maintaining an upbeat mood and keeping the grotesque at bay. When handling such heavy material, it is beneficial to have a narrator with a sense of humor.

For those of you with a strong constitution and a healthy curiosity about what transpires to our bodies when we die, I highly recommend this book. Cadavers are USEFUL, after all. It's high time they start receiving the credit they deserve.

In my nonfiction phase during the year, I happened to pick up this particular book.

After delving into it and finally finishing, I deeply regretted my purchase. The book delves into the medical use of corpses and the human body, both in the present day and throughout history. The subject matter is undeniably extremely interesting.

The various methods, tests, and the rich history behind human body experiments are truly worth exploring. In fact, it makes one seriously consider becoming an organ donor or donating their body to medical science.

However, the problem lies with the author, who is one of the WORST writers I have ever come across. To the extent that every time I picked up the book, I found myself getting angry.

I only managed to finish the book because my OCD compelled me to do so, given that I had already started it. There are two highly irritating aspects of this book.

Firstly, Roach would spend several pages vividly describing something fascinating and then completely ruin it by inserting the snarkiest comment imaginable. For instance, when discussing how feet are utilized by scientists, she would throw in a comment about her stinky socks.

Secondly, a few years ago, a friend witnessed a movie about the roads to concentration camps at the Tribeca Film Festival that was truly atrocious because the director inserted himself into the film and made himself an integral part of the story. Well, that's precisely what this author does for the entire friggin' book. It's just awful.

Eeeek! There is simply too much information here for my squeamish stomach. I am aware that Mary Roach has thousands of fans, but I found her delight in gruesome details to be a bit unpleasant.

I also discovered that the chapters regarding the historical treatment of cadavers were more interesting than those on their current usage. I thought some of the chapters on contemporary usage were rather boring and could have been edited down.

The titles of the book's chapters provide a good indication of the contents. For example, "A HEAD IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE" deals with practising surgery on the dead, while "CRIMES OF ANATOMY" delves into body snatching and other sordid tales from the dawn of human dissection.

And as usual, here are a few notes of things that I found of personal interest, mostly in the author's own words. For instance, I was surprised to learn that even when surgeons are in residencies, they aren't typically given the opportunity to practice operations on donated cadavers.

All in all, I thought this was a so-so read. I loved the chapter on the history of how cadavers were obtained for autopsies and also enjoyed reading about plastination. However, I rather skimmed through the rest of the book. Finally, I must complain that this is another non-fiction book without an index, which is not good.

This book is truly fascinating. It has a unique charm that combines a morbid sense of humor with a subject matter that is right up my alley.

The author's dry wit is on full display throughout the story, and the narrator does an excellent job of delivering these quips with a skillful deadpan. However, it's important to be warned that author Roach details all sorts of cadaver research.

She delves into some truly horrifying experiments that involve not only animals, like innocent little puppies, but also dead humans. I found myself learning many things that I could have easily gone through the rest of my life without ever discovering.

The author must have nerves of steel as she manages to wheedle her way into some very weird situations. Her obsessiveness about cadavers is almost creepy, but it also makes for great reading.

This book is definitely one that will hold up to many re-reads. It's a captivating and thought-provoking work that I would highly recommend to anyone with an interest in the macabre or a taste for the unusual.

This book has won numerous awards since its publication in 2003. It seems to have been around forever, and I always regarded it as "not for me". However, that changed when my husband, who has worked in hip and knee joint replacement surgery and the necessary cadaver research for 30 years, put it in my hands. He still found it extremely interesting, and I have to admit that it is actually quite fascinating. It is not only filled with information but also highly entertaining.

If you are a pragmatic person like me and believe that once your soul has "left the building", your body is just a shell that can be put to good use in some way to help the living, you will be surprised by the many ways in which this can be done. Here, I must confess that if you know my family's medical history, you will understand that I have a more than casual interest in more research being done for medical conditions that still hold enough mystery in this day and age. This not only promotes the idea of increasing the education of medical professionals but also helps fellow sufferers of health issues. That's the part I had already considered, marking the box for organ donation on my driver's license long ago (well, back when people might have wanted them). However, there are so many other things involving cadaver use that I seriously hadn't thought much about, such as crime investigation, public safety, and product testing. The list goes on and on.

This is my first read by Mary Roach (and many say it's her best!), and it's quite impressive that she has taken a subject that many would consider too morbid (and sometimes just plain gross) and turned it into a very thought-provoking statement about how the study of the human body has already had a dramatic impact on all of us (penicillin, car airbags, football helmets) and will continue to do so for generations to come.

You already know this, but still, this is absolutely and seriously not for even the mildly squeamish or those offended by different religious or moral views.

5 stars.