Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
What is the author's tone in Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach?
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Jill W
The dominant tone is undeniably humanist. In addressing the topic of death, Roach focuses on human dignity and quality of life issues. Even while addressing spiritual matters, Roach tends to return to the biological, the rational, and the scientific. Despite her humanist preconceptions, however, the author strikes a fairly balanced tone, only occasionally expressing value judgments. Her attitude toward religion, apparent in the way she characterizes Pierra Barbet's research as "propaganda," is best described as wary but is not otherwise adversarial.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers