“Stiff…” –Study Questions
1. Although cadavers are clearly dead, Roach insists on using the phrase “lives of” in her title. Now that
you’ve read her book, why do you think she decided to do this?
2. The author discusses several uses for cadavers. Which use did you find either most upsetting, most
amazing, why?
3. How has the use of cadavers assisted the armed forces? Give specific examples from the book.
4. Describe how the use of cadavers can assist the field of cosmetology.
5. Before people donated their bodies to science, how did doctors and scientists receive bodies for
testing?
6. Explain in detail what occurs at University of Tennessee’s Research Facility, a.k.a. “The Body Farm.”
7. What event or quote from the novel did you find the most memorable? Why do you believe this
event or quote stuck with you?
8. At the end of book, Roach tells us what she is going to do with her body when she dies. What is her
wish and why?
9. What do you think about donating your body to science? What was your opinion before reading this
book? Has your opinion changed since reading this book?
Lesson 1
Objective: Chapter 1- A Head is a Terrible Thing to Waste
The first chapter introduces us to Mary Roach and also to her writing style. This lesson discusses Roach's
writing, and how it reveals her writing style.
Read the first few paragraphs closely, and analyze the writing style. How does Roach write? What kinds
of words does she use?
Quiz Short Answer Questions - Chapter 1- A Head is a Terrible Thing to Waste
1. What is the first experience with cadavers that Mary Roach describes?
2. What is the advantage of practicing surgery on a cadaver?
3. How does Mary Roach describe making cadavers bearable?
4. How does Mary Roach say cadavers have been treated, historically?
5. Where did surgeons used to learn their techniques before they used cadavers?
6. How does consent figure in the use of cadavers for medical training?
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Discussion Questions for STIFF: THE CURIOUS LIVES OF HUMAN CADAVERS (Nonfiction selection)
1. In the Introduction, the author separates cadavers and dead bodies from the concept of a living
person. How do you feel about this separation? Are a dead body and a living body different ethically?
2. Some chapters seemed more "icky" than others, in terms of subject matter. Did you skip any chapters,
or browse only, due to subject matter? Which ones?
3. Did you find the author's dry humor helpful or disturbing during your reading?
4. Were you surprised to learn that cadavers are used in so many different areas and kinds of research?
How do you feel about that? Which area of research surprised you the most?
5. The author talked about objectification of human corpses. Do you think most people who work with
or around corpses objectify them? If you work with mice, rats, or other living organisms in your
research, do you objectify them?
6. Before each chapter, Roach includes a photo that represents the content of the following chapter in
some way. What did you think of the inclusion of these photos?
7. At the end of the book, Roach discusses the process she has gone through to decide whether or not to
donate her body. What did you think of her including this personal touch?