Book Review: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

I can't recall where I learned of this book [Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers], it's been in my Amazon queue for maybe 6 months.

I think the best comment I have regarding this book is that no other book has ever made me laugh out loud and almost throw-up in my mouth on the same page, numerous times! ;-)

Published in 2003, about 300 pages. I think it's Ms. Roach's first book, an offshoot from an earlier column. [here's an excerpt]

I finished the book a few days ago while sitting in the waiting room of the cardiac unit of a large local hospital, it took me a while to see the irony. ;-)

Ms. Roach is a very engaging writer. She has a quick wit that keeps the reader engaged and interested in the topic. The book looks at the way cadavers were treated and used centuries ago, in recent centuries, and even today. The ethical questions related to how we use and dispose of bodies are also discussed.

A few thoughts.
1. What the heck is a 'gibbet?'
2. p. 46, Worst custom nameplates, ever.
3. p. 48, In response to body-snatching (19th cent. Europe), a market popped-up for protecting bodies.

4. p. 61, Rigor mortis vs. algor mortis [Al Gore joke goes here]
5. p. 79, Abe Lincoln might have been the first celebrity embalming.
6. p. 81, Early embalming contests were used to determine the best cocktail of ingredients to use. Reminds me of 20th century chronometry competitions. ;-)

7. In some ways death may be seen as a continuum rather than a discrete event: "The distance between the very old, sick, frail person and the dead one is short, with a poorly marked border"
8. p. 139, I had no idea how many foods used gelatin.
9. p. 172. The concept of a 'waiting mortuary.'
10. In the near future, in addition to burial and cremation ... you may have the option of being composted or 'dissolved.'

This book is a little off the beaten path, but VERY interesting and entertaining. Recommended! ;-)

Misc. links:
Over your dead body - Salon.com
Dead man decomposing - Salon.com
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human ... - Google Book Search
Amazon.com: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Media Review - Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Mary Roach, Author of Stiff, Spook and Bonk