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Let's face it: we all fear death. It's a scary
thing to ponder, so we adopt one of two outlooks: we choose never to think about
it, or we look at it in a comic light. Television shows, such as HBO's “Six Feet
Under” and Showtime's “Dead Like Me,” are prime examples of entertainment that
achieves much of its humor from death and the events that result from it.
Therefore, in honor of the recent release of Mary Roach's new book, Spook:
Science Tackles the Afterlife, I thought it would be appropriate to remind
readers of her first book, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers,
which was one of my favorite books of 2003.
The book recounts the scientific, technological, and medical advances that have
resulted from research on cadavers. It may seem strange to describe a book with
that plot description as hysterical, but that is the only word that fits. With
chapters like "A Head is a Terrible Thing to Waste" and "Eat Me," a chapter on
cannibalism, Roach manages to blend her wry observations on all she sees with
fascinating and educational stories and information.
The idea of blending wry observations with death and decay could have gone
horribly wrong and might have read as a cruel, disrespectful examination of the
role of cadavers in various experiments. Instead, Roach manages to convey a
sense of respect for her subject, while portraying the strangeness of what can
befall our bodies when we no longer need them.
While the book isn't for everyone, as some readers are just too uncomfortable
with death to enjoy a book like this, those with the appropriate sense of humor
will find it a worthy read,
Review by Julianne Ramsey, December 7, 2005
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