Stiff
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An oddly compelling, often hilarious forensic exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For two thousand years, cadavers some willingly, some unwittingly have been involved in sciences boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. Theyve tested Frances first guillotines, ridden the NASA
… More »An oddly compelling, often hilarious forensic exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For two thousand years, cadavers some willingly, some unwittingly have been involved in sciences boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. Theyve tested Frances 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. 13 b/w illustrations.
« Lessthe curious lives of human cadavers
A head is a terrible thing to waste : practicing surgery on the dead -- Crimes of anatomy : body snatching and other sordid tales from the dawn of human dissection -- Life after death : on human decay and what can be done about it -- Dead man driving : human crash test dummies and the ghastly, necessary science of impact tolerance -- Beyond the black box : when the bodies of the passengers must tell the story of a crash -- The cadaver who joined the army : the sticky ethics of bullets and bombs -- Holy cadaver : the crucifixion experiments -- How to know if you're dead : beating-heart cadavers, live burial, and the scientific search for the soul -- Just a head : decapitation, reanimation, and the human head transplant -- Eat me : medicinal cannibalism and the case of the human dumplings -- Out of the fire, into the compost bin : and other new ways to end up -- Remains of the author : will she or won't she?
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Summary
Add a Summaryfunny and engaging. a terrific overview of the life (?) of a corpse. from crash dummy, to being on display as a plastinated piece of art in a museum to helping forensic anthropologists determine rate of decay . we all die, we all end as corpses. sometimes even dead we have a life!
Mary Roach, a journalist, describes various ways cadavers are used or have been used historically. In a series of sketches, Roach visits sites where cadavers are used, describes what she witnesses, and interviews the people who work with cadavers. She discusses the use of cadvers by surgeons who wish to improve their techniques without harming a patient; how cadavers have been procured historically, including a discussion of medical colleges relying on body snatchers; the decay process of cadavers and its use in forensics; the use of cadavers to test safety features in cars; how cadavers are used to determine the cause of airplane accidents; the use of cadavers to determine the impact of bullets and bombs; the use of cadavers by scholars interested in crucifixion; organ donation; the possibility of head transplants; cannibalism; various methods of disposing of dead bodies. In the final chapter, the author muses about how she would like her own body to be disposed.
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Add a CommentThe parts of the book relating to human cadavers were very interesting. Reading about the process of human decomposition strengthened my resolve to be cremated. However, I did not think it was necessary to go into such great detail about the awful things that were done to living animals. It was very hard to read at times. If I wanted to read about this subject, I would get a book on it. If you are sensitive toward animal cruelty, this is not the book for you.
Not for the squeamish, but extremely informative. Who knew you could do so many things by donating your body to science (among other things...)
In a series of sketches based on interviews she conducted, Mary Roach discusses the various ways in which cadavers are used or have been used historically. In each sketch, Roach visits a facility in which cadavers are used, describes what she witnesses during her visit, and interviews the people who work at the facility. The topics she treats include organ donation, the use of cadavers in forensics, how surgeons use cadavers to improve techniques without harming actual patients, and how cadavers are used to test the safety of cars. They also include misuses such as body snatching, cannibalism, attempted head transplants, and researching the effects of crucifixion. After reading the book, its organizing principle still escapes me. Also, Roach's discussions tend to be discursive. A chapter on organ donation contains a long digression about scientists' historical search for the soul or qi. Her writing also tends to be self-referential. Roach interrupts her descriptions of what she is witnessing to tell us what she was thinking as she witnessed it. Some of these digressions are humorous; others are simply off topic.
Hi-la-ri-ous. Mary Roach is awesome, this book was well worth the read.
A fascinating read that is both respectful and intriguing. The author has no qualms about explaining how she feels and telling us the answers to questions we dare not ask.
Interesting read, very informative and dark.
I've never contemplated my mortality more than I did during this book. Talking about corpses and whether you want your "remains" cremated, donated to science, plasticized, composted or even eaten will definitely make you pause to think. Apparently when this book came out in 2002, it was to some resistance. I don't know why talking in detail about the one person who doesn't and can't care, brings up such strong emotions. I'm not saying that I'm immune to those feelings, but let's get some perspective. I am a sucker for Non-Fiction, so this book was right up my alley. I found all the information and history absolutely fascinating! I had never considered that actual corpses were used as crash test dummies, I always pictured those horribly obnoxious crash test commerial dummies from the 80's. The fact that a woman in Sweden is working toward a future where loved ones are frozen and composted into a living plant, is a testament to how ignorant I was about anything post-mortem. For anyone who has ever considered death, not just those angsty, emo teenagers, this book is the corpse's cacophony!
You don't expect to be charmed or tickled reading a book about the use of cadavers in research, but this book proves you wrong! Well researched, interesting, and entertaining!
Mary Roach is a science writer to follow. She has an easy writing style and a willingness to throw herself wholeheartedly into touchy areas of research. Despite the morbid subject matter of this work there were more than enough chuckle-worthy points.
This was an unexpected read about stiffs (aka cadavers) covering lots of topics and what happens to the bodies of people after they are dead. Keep in mind, some people will find it a little hard to digest due the topic of discussion. Regardless, it was informative and loved the sidenotes that author gives while reading her books. Even had a giggle or two.