Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers (urspr publ 2003; utgåvan 2004)

Well, Mary Roach has completely won me over with this book! The title suggests an exceptionally morbid read, but I would suggest this book even for slightly more squeamish readers...Mary Roach's humor is infectious and the information is so darned interesting! I dare anyone to put this book down and say they were bored with it.

Using her investigative reporter skills, Mary Roach looks at the fascinating and slightly disgusting history of human cadavers - how they've been used throughout history, how they're used today, and what sorts of medical advances have been made possible through cadaver research.

Each chapter is split into different topics, including "Life After Death: On Human Decay and What Can Be Done About It," "Holy Cadaver: The Crucifixion Experiments," and "Eat Me: Medicinal Cannibalism and the Case of the Human Dumplings." I really liked this set-up, because it made it easy to divide up my reading sessions (eg. "I'll just read to the end of the cannibalism chapter"), and it felt like I was discovering something new every time I started another section. (A note of warning though: the chapters on human decay and cannibalism are NOT chapters you want to read during mealtime. I learned this the hard way.)

And her writing style is tremendously entertaining! I have a lot of respect for nonfiction authors who can write entertaining, accessible books, and Mary Roach is at the top of that list. Her humor is pervasive throughout the entire book, which isn't something you'd expect from a book about dead people. Even her footnotes were laugh-out-loud funny. But her humor never veers into disrespectful territory, and she always maintains a curious, almost awestruck reverence for her subject matter.

Both her historical and personal accounts are given equal attention, and I was amazed at the investigative lengths she went to in order to gather material for the book. (Case in point: she travels to China in order to track down a couple of legendary cannibalistic dumpling makers.)

Language is minimal, subject matter might be a bit too gross for certain readers, but the humor and the interest factor should override much of the squeamishness.

Readalikes: Obviously, the rest of her books, which showcase her trademark blend of science and humor writing. Her latest book, Gulp, investigates the workings of the digestive system, and is sure to deliver plenty of fascinating and disgusting factoids about our intestines! For a more spiritual investigation, you could try Spook, her investigation of the afterlife. Or if you're really looking to delve into a taboo topic, you can try Bonk, her investigation of science and sex.

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab, The Body Farm, Where the Dead Do Tell Tales by Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. If you find yourself as interested in the forensics lab in Tennessee where dead bodies are left out to decay in the sun, you have to check out this book, which gives plenty of insider information for forensic geeks and people like me, who just like information on how bodies decay. To each their own! ( )

Mary Roach has a writing style and sense of humor that help her pull this book about cadavers off in a interesting and respectful way. I'm impressed. It took me a while to finish this book because it's still a little challenging to read a book about this topic over lunch at work, but I'm glad I finished it! ( )

Mary Roach writes on an interesting topic in an engaging voice, and her interest in the subject matter comes though quite clearly as she details her research on the use of cadavers. I will definitely be checking out her other books (one of which is about ghosts, and the other about sex - an interesting trifecta of subjects, when you get right down to it). ( )

Informative, funny and sometimes a bit disturbing. Easy to pick up and read. ( )

4Q 5P
A gruesome yet fascinating glimpse into the world of human cadavers. From morgues to car test dummies, Mary Roach bravely investigates the grisly histories and current uses of cadavers. Disgusting and enlightening all at once, this is non-fiction that reads like fiction and would be a brilliant companion for students taking biology or anatomy classes. ( )