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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
If possible, check out the audiobook version from your library. It's like listening to an extra long segment from NPR.
I found this book really fascinating, and also very educational, I learned a lot about the clinical and practical views on death and dying.
Which meant that I could handle it, I'm the kind of person who can't watch CSI, or true-crime stories, or even the news that much, because it makes me too upset to want to expose my fragile little psyche to that kind of thing intentionally.
The author has a very wry, very clever sense of humor, that helps keep the subject from going down an paths that are too dark, but it's not crude, or disrespectful, it's just very practical and clinical.
The sheer amount of history, research, travel and interviews that go into this book, which reads as sort of a first person account, with many, many historical accounts, and world views, with interviews from professionals and workers in every industry you can think of that deals with cadavers, the work that went into this book, is staggering.
It's not a book I could recommend to many, especially if they recently had a loved one die, they may not want to think about bodies so much....but I do feel that it's definitely worth reading, and rather enriching to have read, and have in one's head as general knowledge, and to contemplate as to choices about our ourselves and perhaps any difficult burial decisions that we might be responsible for on behalf of others.
Which meant that I could handle it, I'm the kind of person who can't watch CSI, or true-crime stories, or even the news that much, because it makes me too upset to want to expose my fragile little psyche to that kind of thing intentionally.
The author has a very wry, very clever sense of humor, that helps keep the subject from going down an paths that are too dark, but it's not crude, or disrespectful, it's just very practical and clinical.
The sheer amount of history, research, travel and interviews that go into this book, which reads as sort of a first person account, with many, many historical accounts, and world views, with interviews from professionals and workers in every industry you can think of that deals with cadavers, the work that went into this book, is staggering.
It's not a book I could recommend to many, especially if they recently had a loved one die, they may not want to think about bodies so much....but I do feel that it's definitely worth reading, and rather enriching to have read, and have in one's head as general knowledge, and to contemplate as to choices about our ourselves and perhaps any difficult burial decisions that we might be responsible for on behalf of others.
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Not sure what I was expecting, but this was an entertaining as well as educational read. I love the author’s style of writing, her use of sarcasm and a somewhat morbid sense of humor was well placed and helped add some levity to the taboo subject of human cadavers. If you’re even slightly interested in all the ways human remains have been and are used, this is great book for you!
As a medical fan I delight in the strange and oftentimes oddly hilarious stories of the human cadaver in this book. Roach writes from the non-medical, journalist point-of-view and it leads to a wonderful writing style that is relatable to the medical community and those who have no medical background at all. While this book is going on 20 years it still has often unknown and strange stories and studies of the lives of those who chose to donate their bodies to science. If your interested in medical science or even interested in death "Stiff" is an exceptional book and Roaches style is sure to be enjoyable for anyone.
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
I just don’t think Mary Roach is for me. The information to personal anecdote ratio is not my cuppa. And the language feels dated (it is an older book, but it hasn’t aged super well.)
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
dark
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore
This was an incredibly fascinating read. I was constantly blown away by the information and learned so much that I feel I wouldn't have known without reading this book.
However, the author had an irritating habit of trying to make light of the subject matter with little 'humorous' asides that at best fell flat and at worst were distasteful. I also had trouble with some of the gorier content, such as the in-depth descriptions of the decaying process. I don't consider myself to be very squeamish, but I felt sick to my stomach a few times. Although, the 3 stars are more for the author's style than the ick factor.
I'd tentatively recommend this book if you aren't easily grossed out, and with the warning that the author can be annoying. Other than that, great interesting information!
However, the author had an irritating habit of trying to make light of the subject matter with little 'humorous' asides that at best fell flat and at worst were distasteful. I also had trouble with some of the gorier content, such as the in-depth descriptions of the decaying process. I don't consider myself to be very squeamish, but I felt sick to my stomach a few times. Although, the 3 stars are more for the author's style than the ick factor.
I'd tentatively recommend this book if you aren't easily grossed out, and with the warning that the author can be annoying. Other than that, great interesting information!
dark
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
informative