Books › Stiff
Stiff
453 pages
A delightfully morbid, laugh-out-loud funny exploration of the bizarre and noble things our bodies do after we die.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like taking a fascinating, slightly taboo field trip with the smartest, funniest tour guide you have ever met. The pace is brisk and episodic, bouncing from forensic decay facilities to crash-test laboratories with an infectious, wide-eyed curiosity. It wraps you in a mood that is undeniably macabre yet entirely devoid of gloom, replacing existential dread with a sense of absurd wonder. The prose is conversational, witty, and unafraid of the grotesque, delivering stomach-churning details with impeccable deadpan timing. It is a delightfully weird experience that appeals to readers with dark humor and strong stomachs, leaving you armed with bizarre dinner-party trivia and a surprisingly tender appreciation for the physical shell you leave behind.
- Mood
- macabre
- fascinating
- absurd
- surprisingly tender
- Tone
- wry
- irreverent
- curious
- conversational
- deadpan
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the afterlife of the physical body · scientific curiosity · the absurdity of death · human utility
- The writing
- Conversational and razor-sharp, blending meticulous journalistic research with laugh-out-loud, deadpan comedic timing.
- The arc
- Begins with a jolt of morbid curiosity and squeamishness, gradually transforming into a profound, surprisingly tender appreciation for the physical vessel.
- Who it's for
- Curious minds with strong stomachs and a dark sense of humor who love collecting bizarre trivia.
Content notes
- graphic descriptions of decay
- medical procedures
- animal testing
- gore
- death and dying
About the book
A hilarious and witty look into the history of using cadavers for science, grave diggers, and options to consider about your burial plan. A dark and uncomfortable subject made more palatable and downright funny.
Description from Open Library.
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