Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

• A very good book that gives you a different perspective on death. What's intriguing is that a cadaver actually has so many uses; it seems I really need to think about what to do with my own body in the future!

• The book is well written, and I developed a huge fondness for the author, especially since she actually visited the Body Farm and even traveled all the way to Haikou to investigate claims of cannibalism. Overall, it covers everything from scientific analysis of corpses to bizarre historical anecdotes, like an extensive brainstorming session spanning every angle of human cadavers.

• Setting the content aside, the author's delightfully cheeky little footnotes and remarks alone are worth the price of admission.

• A book that reveals exactly how donated cadavers are treated. The author's skillful storytelling keeps it from becoming overly grim, making for a surprisingly pleasant aftertaste. Still, while I wouldn't mind donating my own body, I found myself thinking I really wouldn't want that for a loved one.

• The debut work of Mary Roach, America's most hilarious and earthy science writer. The original title is STIFF, slang for a corpse. Starting a career right off with cadavers takes quite some nerve, though reading it does too. No graphic photos, so don't worry. People in the US who donate their bodies might imagine saving a life through organ transplants, with part of them living on. But unless you state otherwise, most donated bodies end up in student dissection labs.

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