description: 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.
language: English
title: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
titlecomplete: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
genres: Audiobook, Biology, Death, Science, Medicine, Adult, Medical, Nonfiction, History, Humor
ratings_count: 212248
series: Mary Roach's Curiosities
awards: awardedAt: 1041408000000
name: Guardian First Book Award
category: Also Commended, awardedAt: 1072944000000
name: ALA Alex Award, awardedAt: 1136102400000
name: Lincoln Award
publisher: Tantor Audio