Books: Anyone not impressed with "Stiff"

[Scrub MD]

I am 114 pages(Ch.4) into "Stiff" by Mary Roach and I am not impressed. I thought a book about cadavers would be great but I am disappointed. All the things she talks about are from the 1800-1900's. There is some lame attepts at humor but mostly just rambling about eating pizza, history of car crashes and pointless stories.

Any other takes on this book? I have decided to put it down as it is just painfully boring to read. I am moving on to "Hot Lights, Cold Steel".

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[Flopotomist]

I am 114 pages(Ch.4) into "Stiff" by Mary Roach and I am not impressed. I thought a book about cadavers would be great but I am disappointed. All the things she talks about are from the 1800-1900's. There is some lame attepts at humor but mostly just rambling about eating pizza, history of car crashes and pointless stories.

Any other takes on this book? I have decided to put it down as it is just painfully boring to read. I am moving on to "Hot Lights, Cold Steel".

This book is in my "toilet" category. It is fun to keep in the bathroom because one chapter can be read during one bowel movement. Guests like it, and it gives them something to talk about after they use the bathroom. But overall, I agree that the book is a bit overrated.

 

[SailCrazy]

It does a fantastic job of holding down the floor mat in the back seat of my car... I'd been missing it and just noticed it there this week!

 

[humuhumu]

I am 114 pages(Ch.4) into "Stiff" by Mary Roach and I am not impressed. I thought a book about cadavers would be great but I am disappointed. All the things she talks about are from the 1800-1900's. There is some lame attepts at humor but mostly just rambling about eating pizza, history of car crashes and pointless stories.

Any other takes on this book? I have decided to put it down as it is just painfully boring to read. I am moving on to "Hot Lights, Cold Steel".

I liked Stiff. For me it was entertaining and thought provoking. YMMV.

 

[cotinara]

I liked Stiff. It was a fun book examining the history of cadavers. While some of the humor is well a lame attempt at it, it overall was decent. I mean its not going to win a pulitzer prize anytime soon.

 

[Severus]

I also kind of liked the curious life of human cadavers. It's no literary great - unlike Harry Potter 🙄 - but it's an interesting book, if a bit lame at times. The stuff on the 19th century anatomy chop shops (which was my favorite part) doesn't last the entire book. The second half is all about people dying in plains, trains, automobiles (zzzzz-fest) and the decomposition process.

 

[Gavanshir]

This book is in my "toilet" category. It is fun to keep in the bathroom because one chapter can be read during one bowel movement. Guests like it, and it gives them something to talk about after they use the bathroom. But overall, I agree that the book is a bit overrated.

I've been meaning to ask this for a while now, wouldn't "toilet books/magazines" be very unsanitary? Why would anyone want to touch those things?

 

[Flopotomist]

I've been meaning to ask this for a while now, wouldn't "toilet books/magazines" be very unsanitary? Why would anyone want to touch those things?

OK - a few comments here:

1. The book should be the most sanitary thing in the room actually - think about it, you sit down, pick up the book, do your business, set the book down, wipe, then get up. So the book is touched BEFORE the hands are dirty.

2. I have worked in an ER for a few years now, and not once have we seen any bathroom book spread e-coli hand infections.

3. After reading the book, you should wash your hands anyways because you were just taking a poop.

4. Dude, if you are this worried about germs, why on Earth would you want to work in medicine?

 

[Rendar5]

I really enjoyed the book, personally. Just lots of cool things to know about what might happen to our bodies after we die. Does have a peculiar style of writing, though. I found it light and humorous at times, but I can see why it might bore someone. It's not boring in and of itself. it's just that it keeps some people's attentions and not others. It kpet mine and i'm pretty distractable.

 

[CuddlyKumquat]

to the OP: You might wanna finish the book before you judge it. She moves off of the 1800's and actually tells a good tale.

 

[Gavanshir]

2. I have worked in an ER for a few years now, and not once have we seen any bathroom book spread e-coli hand infections.

Would patients come in telling the doctor that they got hand infections from their bathroom books?

Dude, if you are this worried about germs, why on Earth would you want to work in medicine?

What a ridiculous comment! I dont see any reason why the word earth should be capitalized in that sentence, but that wasn't what's most ridiculous about what you said.

So I dont have a place in medicine because I dont want to carry other people's bacteria from feces and genetalia? There is nothing wrong in being weary of bacteria, specially when it comes to areas like the bathroom.

 

[Rendar5]

Would patients come in telling the doctor that they got hand infections from their bathroom books?


What a ridiculous comment! I dont see any reason why the word earth should be capitalized in that sentence, but that wasn't what's most ridiculous about what you said.

So I dont have a place in medicine because I dont want to carry other people's bacteria from feces and genetalia? There is nothing wrong in being weary of bacteria, specially when it comes to areas like the bathroom.

you touch books in the bathroom after touching ur genitalia and feces?

EDIT: talking seriously, actually, i think the highest concentration of such germs would not be on books for public use. they're on the flushing handle (u touch that after wiping ur ass, not before), and the door handle (u touch that after wiping ur ass, not before). and some trivia, most unsanitary commonplace object to stick ur hands? in a bowling ball.

 

[63768]

man, i'm currently on the same sequence in reading. i'm reading stiff now and am looking to buy hot lights, cold steel soon. it should be awesome especially in light of the fact that i'm pretty sure i'll be going for ortho.

anyway, stiff wasn't so much a disappointment as it is not that stimulating. it's funny and it provides a lot of good history (which i think is very important for any professional) but it doesn't have the grip of atul gawande's or lisa belkin's books.

 

[veenut]

you should wash your hands anyways because you were just taking a poop.

it's advice like this that keeps me coming back to SDN every day.

 

[isobel]

i liked stiff a lot. on the other hand, i thought complications was just ok.

 

[Gavanshir]

you touch books in the bathroom after touching ur genitalia and feces?

In order to stay on topic, only if the book is Stiff written by Mary Roach.

 

[fpr85]

Any other takes on this book? I have decided to put it down as it is just painfully boring to read. I am moving on to "Hot Lights, Cold Steel".

I thought "Hot Lights, Cold Steel" was an excellent book -- it was an interesting read and not one part of it was boring. What about "Intern Blues", anyone read it? I read about 50 pages in B & N, and got kind of bored, from what I understand it's a compilation of journal entries.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Would patients come in telling the doctor that they got hand infections from their bathroom books?


What a ridiculous comment! I dont see any reason why the word earth should be capitalized in that sentence, but that wasn't what's most ridiculous about what you said.

So I dont have a place in medicine because I dont want to carry other people's bacteria from feces and genetalia? There is nothing wrong in being weary of bacteria, specially when it comes to areas like the bathroom.

At least get your grammar straight before you call someone out. Earth is capitalized when you're referring to the planet, not earth as in ground.

While I'm on it. You mean wary (cautious) not weary (tired). The word is spelled genitalia. And "specially" is not a word.

 

[Chinorean]

I am 114 pages(Ch.4) into "Stiff" by Mary Roach and I am not impressed. I thought a book about cadavers would be great but I am disappointed. All the things she talks about are from the 1800-1900's. There is some lame attepts at humor but mostly just rambling about eating pizza, history of car crashes and pointless stories.

Any other takes on this book? I have decided to put it down as it is just painfully boring to read. I am moving on to "Hot Lights, Cold Steel".

Are you kidding? I loved Stiff! Mary Roach has a great sense of humor. Her second, Spook, is not as good so if you didn't like Stiff I guess you wouldn't like that one either. But seriously, I think it's interesting stuff along the lines of Blink or Tipping Point that reveals something you normally wouldn't think of yourself.

 

[ClearDay]

At least get your grammar straight before you call someone out. Earth is capitalized when you're referring to the planet, not earth as in ground.

While I'm on it. You mean wary (cautious) not weary (tired). The word is spelled genitalia. And "specially" is not a word.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

I agree that "Complications" was a mundane read. I have yet to read "Stiff".....

 

[angietron3000]

I've got 2 chapters left in Stiff. So far it's convinced me to put the organ donor sticker on my driver's license but not to donate my body to science. I'm hoping I can finish it by this weekend.. speaking of toilet books, the next in my queue is The Tao of Pooh 😛

 

[Gavanshir]

At least get your grammar straight before you call someone out. Earth is capitalized when you're referring to the planet, not earth as in ground.

While I'm on it. You mean wary (cautious) not weary (tired). The word is spelled genitalia. And "specially" is not a word.

If you didn't realize, the Earth comment was meant as a joke and not to "call him out" on a grammatical error. And you might as well go through every thread and correct everyone's spelling and grammar mistakes then. The truth of the matter is that other people's grammatical errors on a message board are really none of your business. If you understood what I said then that should be enough. Having said that, english is not my first language and I appreciate the grammar lesson. Also I believe "specially" is just as much of a word as especially is, similar to color and colour.

Now, I'm CALLING YOU OUT!!! Oooooooh!!!

Relax your butt cheeks buddy.

 

[lemonlite]

I agree that "Complications" was a mundane read. I have yet to read "Stiff".....

I aggree - complications - so overrated. Even though I admit, I couldn't put it down.... But he's a doctor, not a writer..... It's like the poetry in JAMA - it's good - for a doctor - but if you put them next to other literary works.... Literally a toilet book. And I had such high hopes... see "house of god" - Of course this was not too highbrow either. - and somewhat unrealistic with respect to current trends. EX: needle of diazapam for co-intern.

Haven't read stiff.

 

[lemonlite]

If you didn't realize, the Earth comment was meant as a joke and not to "call him out" on a grammatical error. And you might as well go through every thread and correct everyone's spelling and grammar mistakes then. The truth of the matter is that other people's grammatical errors on a message board are really none of your business. If you understood what I said then that should be enough. Having said that, english is not my first language and I appreciate the grammar lesson. Also I believe "specially" is just as much of a word as especially is, similar to color and colour.

Now, I'm CALLING YOU OUT!!! Oooooooh!!!

Relax your butt cheeks buddy.

I really enjoyed his ripping on you......