Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Author(s): Mary Roach
An oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For 2,000 years, cadavers-some willingly, some unwittingly-have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. They've tested France's 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.
General Information
- :
- : Penguin Books
- : Penguin Books
- : 0.238
- : 30 June 2004
- : books
Other Specifications
- : Mary Roach
- : Paperback
- : English
- : 611
- : 304
- : Popular science; Anatomy
More About The Product
Rowan writes: If you donated your body to science, would you imagine that it would end up as practice material for comsetic surgeons? In Stiff, Mary Roach confronts mortality - specifically, mortal remains - with an inquiring spirit and more than a dash of black humour. From crash testing and weapons experimentation to forensics and medicinal uses, Roach leaves no (head)stone unturned.
Mary Roach is a journalist. She has written for Salon, Wired, GQ, Discover, Vogue and the New York Times Magazine. This is her first book.