Stiff explores the various, often unexpected, ways human cadavers have been utilized after death throughout history and in modern times. From surgical practice and forensic research to automotive safety testing and the study of decomposition, the book examines the complex and sometimes macabre relationship between the living and the dead in the pursuit of knowledge and progress. Roach also investigates historical and contemporary practices surrounding death, including embalming, body donation, and even medicinal cannibalism, revealing the often bizarre and fascinating intersection of science, culture, and mortality.