Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

Roach states that her “first cadaver,” the first dead body she was ever exposed to, was that of her mother. How is the narrative affected by Roach inserting personal anecdotes into the cultural history of cadavers? What would this book be like if the narrator were an impartial observer?

In Chapter Four, we see lab researchers adjusting a cadaver’s limbs into position before testing. Roach observes that this activity resembles “nursing-home work” in that it involves the “dressing, lifting, arranging” of a generally invalid body (97). What are the implications for this comparison? Explain how Roach’s commentary might invoke an emotional response in the reader, and how that response might serve her argument.

From resurrectionists to cremationists to human composters, Roach uncovers a multitude of industries that profit from death. How does capitalism function in Stiff? Explain how money affects death-related industries and the ethics of that relationship.

Mary Roach is an active participant in the narrative. What purpose does it serve that author inserts herself into this book? How does it affect the book’s overall message and tone?

Roach is candid about her belief that cadavers should be used for medical research. Throughout the book, Roach makes her opinions known about being pro-cadaver (and anti-religion) as she tells the cultural history of cadaver research. How does this affect your reading of the book?

The subject matter of Stiff is dark, at times morbid, and often gory. How does black humor function in the book? What purpose does it serve the narrative? How does it affect the reader’s emotional response?

Throughout the book, the ethics of using cadavers for scientific testing is hotly contested. How might this book help encourage the general public to donate their bodies to science?

There are copious amusing asides in Stiff, usually in the form of footnotes, throughout the book. How does that affect the overall impact of the book? How does it affect the tone? Select your favorite footnote and extrapolate the connections with the major themes of the book.