Stiff

The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, by Mary Roach.

Quickie Recap: What happens to a body when it is donated "to science"? You'd be surprised. Cadavers have a whole bunch of uses, and I bet you haven't really stopped to think about most of them, but Mary Roach has.

WARNING: Cool book alert!

Quickie Review: Like a gruesome car wreck, you can't help but look. Sure it's gory and gross and deeply disturbing, but it's also oddly fascinating and enlightening and has you questioning your own sense of mortality. The first time you laugh out loud, it will surprise you, but pretty soon you realize that Roach is faultlessly respectful, which never stops her from being highly entertaining. This is a re-read for me and I'm enjoying it just as much the second time around. It has been on my list of all-time favourites for years now and I can't see it ever being displaces because it's quirky, unusual, extremely thorough, and delightfully fun. The footnotes alone would be worth a glowing review but all together - I cannot say enough.

Quickie Recommendation: God, yes!!!