Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
This was a fun one! The humor and yet respect that Mary treats the taboo subject of death and cadavers is respectable. To go face to face with one of the most terrifying aspects of being human, and greeting it with a sensitive yet humorous tone is what makes this book stand out. Loved it!
Really really fascinating. Affirmed my desire to be composted when I die lol.
The chapter about cannibalism was super interesting. The chapter about decapitation was making me a bit queasy though so skip that one if you’re of a certain constitution.
Looking forward to checking out more of the author’s books; I loved her humor
The chapter about cannibalism was super interesting. The chapter about decapitation was making me a bit queasy though so skip that one if you’re of a certain constitution.
Looking forward to checking out more of the author’s books; I loved her humor
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Cannibalism
http://bookreviewsbyme2.wordpress.com/2013/09/15/stiff-review/
Honestly, I can’t decide what I thought of this book. The information presented was really quite fantastic but the author (and her ceaseless personal commentary) drove me nuts throughout the story.
Stiff is full of information about what happens to bodies after death – ways they can be used or how they decompose. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of what happens to bodies after death – almost like a miniature story within the overlying story. I found myself thinking, numerous times while reading, “now that’s an interesting fact”. That being said, the facts alone weren’t enough for me to enjoy this book.
I was really unable to enjoy this book because the author drove me bonkers. She’s a little too sassy (for lack of a better word) for the non-fiction genre. While she might make a good journalist (in certain magazines), she’s a little too condescending for a non-fiction book about death. While there were times when her sassy commentary made me laugh, most of the time it came off as disrespectful and rude. For example, she writes (on page 95 or so) that “the Swiss prefer not to fight, but they are armed, and with more than little red pocket knife/can openers”. To me, the part about pocket knifes just seems condescending towards the Swiss. There were numerous times throughout the book that she makes personal judgments towards individuals when she doesn’t know more than a few facts about them, Sir Harold on page 90 (or so) being just one example.
The author also continually brings up “bathroom humor” as much of the humor in her book. Numerous times throughout the book she asks the scientists what happens to penile tissues (or, as happens on page 79, she looks it up on the computer at the local medical school library). When the scientists tell her what happens after death, she makes sure to pay close attention to all the cadavers she comes across to see if what the scientists said plays true. I found her fixation with the genetalia of dead men a little immature and annoying.
Bottom Line: I would give this book 5/10 stars. There was a lot of good information present throughout the book but the author writes in a very unappealing way that overpowers the book and makes it difficult to enjoy.
Honestly, I can’t decide what I thought of this book. The information presented was really quite fantastic but the author (and her ceaseless personal commentary) drove me nuts throughout the story.
Stiff is full of information about what happens to bodies after death – ways they can be used or how they decompose. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of what happens to bodies after death – almost like a miniature story within the overlying story. I found myself thinking, numerous times while reading, “now that’s an interesting fact”. That being said, the facts alone weren’t enough for me to enjoy this book.
I was really unable to enjoy this book because the author drove me bonkers. She’s a little too sassy (for lack of a better word) for the non-fiction genre. While she might make a good journalist (in certain magazines), she’s a little too condescending for a non-fiction book about death. While there were times when her sassy commentary made me laugh, most of the time it came off as disrespectful and rude. For example, she writes (on page 95 or so) that “the Swiss prefer not to fight, but they are armed, and with more than little red pocket knife/can openers”. To me, the part about pocket knifes just seems condescending towards the Swiss. There were numerous times throughout the book that she makes personal judgments towards individuals when she doesn’t know more than a few facts about them, Sir Harold on page 90 (or so) being just one example.
The author also continually brings up “bathroom humor” as much of the humor in her book. Numerous times throughout the book she asks the scientists what happens to penile tissues (or, as happens on page 79, she looks it up on the computer at the local medical school library). When the scientists tell her what happens after death, she makes sure to pay close attention to all the cadavers she comes across to see if what the scientists said plays true. I found her fixation with the genetalia of dead men a little immature and annoying.
Bottom Line: I would give this book 5/10 stars. There was a lot of good information present throughout the book but the author writes in a very unappealing way that overpowers the book and makes it difficult to enjoy.
I would probably give this 2.5 stars if I could. The reviews were so good I expected to love it more than I did! The writing was great but it just wasn’t as interesting as expected.
funny
informative
fast-paced
informative
Not my style nor am I in the right mood for the subject.
عنوان کتاب خودش رو کامل توضیح میده که با چی طرفید
اگه همچین موضوعی براتون جالبه حتماً بخونید
گرچه یه چیزهایی هم داره که ممکنه پیش خودتون بگین
"اگه اینو نمیدونستم شب راحتتر میخوابیدم"
خصوصاً یه فصل داره که در مورد حال بهمزنترین و عجیبترین چیزایی که انسانها به عنوان دارو استفاده کردن میگه
این فصلش باعث شد اینکه ملت به عنوان دارو گه خر دود میکنن برام عادیتر بشه
اگه همچین موضوعی براتون جالبه حتماً بخونید
گرچه یه چیزهایی هم داره که ممکنه پیش خودتون بگین
"اگه اینو نمیدونستم شب راحتتر میخوابیدم"
خصوصاً یه فصل داره که در مورد حال بهمزنترین و عجیبترین چیزایی که انسانها به عنوان دارو استفاده کردن میگه
این فصلش باعث شد اینکه ملت به عنوان دارو گه خر دود میکنن برام عادیتر بشه
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
dark
funny
informative
reflective