Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

by M Roach, Mary Roach, Shelly Frasier · 2003

In this witty, meticulously researched tour of the afterlife, Mary Roach lifts the veil on what really happens to our bodies once we’re gone. From the surprising science of forensic anthropology and the quirky world of body farms, to the solemn rituals of organ donation and the bizarre uses of cadavers in art, engineering and space travel, Roach blends humor with hard‑won facts. She meets the people who study, preserve, and repurpose our remains—scientists, morticians, artists, and volunteers—revealing how the dead continue to teach the living about anatomy, safety, and even morality. A fascinating, compassionate, and often hilarious exploration, "Stiff" shows that the story of a human body doesn’t end at the grave; it just gets a lot more interesting.