I have just started Gulp which reminded me of having read Stiff a few years ago which I would like to recommend. It is fascinating to learn how dead bodies are used in research. I didn’t find the book gruesome because the author is very respectful but does have a light sense of humor for comic relief. Cars are tested for safety, bodies are left out under different weather conditions to study time/decomposition for forensic purposes, and of course organ donations and cadavers for medical schools are discussed. She throws in some interesting history as well, like body snatching and being able to pay for medical school with corpses instead of cash. (Not to worry – this was in Scotland, I think.) Will report on Gulp when I finish.
