Reading Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers was a real experience. I’ve been wanting to read this book ever since I heard someone on NPR talking about it years ago, and I finally got around to it.
This is one of those books that fascinated me while it repulsed me, and it made me feel like I was learning a lot while also challenging my preconceived notions about death and body donation. I especially appreciate when Roach tells anecdotes about her sense of humor not quite landing with the professionals who deal with dead bodies every day. I can see myself making a joke or asking a question that causes the listener to question my sanity…
At the end of the book, I am even more interested in donating my body than I was before I read it. However, as it was written some time ago, I’m interested in learning more about human cadavers in the past 15 years or so. (Which is a sentence I never thought I’d write…)