Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach - A Short Summary and Review
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers - Mary Roach - A Short Summary and Review
By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures
A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review
A short summary:
Stiff by Mary Roach explores what happens to human bodies after death, and how they continue to contribute to science, medicine, and public safety.
With meticulous research and a clear ethical compass, Roach investigates the many uses of donated cadavers: surgical training, medical experimentation, forensic research, crash testing, and even historical practices that shaped modern anatomy. She demystifies a subject many avoid, replacing discomfort with understanding.
Rather than sensationalizing death, the book frames it as a continuation of service, one final contribution to knowledge that benefits the living.
My favorite quote from the book:
Questions to ponder while reading:
My review:
This book is oddly humorous, thoroughly informative, and, most importantly, completely respectful.
Roach’s signature wit makes complex and often taboo material approachable without ever crossing into irreverence. The humor doesn’t diminish the subject; it humanizes it. Each chapter balances levity with empathy, making the science easier to absorb while honoring the individuals behind the bodies.
What stands out most is how enlightening the book is. By the end, readers gain a new appreciation for body donation and the quiet, ongoing role it plays in improving safety, medicine, and understanding.
Stiff manages to make death less frightening, not by minimizing it, but by explaining it honestly. That’s no small achievement.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
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