Death and commemoration have always been a deep passion of mine. It was a significant part of both my degree and my master’s, and I find the way we deal with our dead absolutely fascinating.

Because of this background, much of what was covered in this book wasn’t new to me, as I’ve encountered similar content in my previous reading and research.

That said, Roach is an incredibly engaging writer who really knows how to get her point across. It’s clear she has done extensive research on this topic, and I would strongly recommend this book to anyone, especially those considering donating their body to medical science.

I’m never particularly keen on reading about tests on animals. While it’s an unavoidable aspect of the subject, I would have enjoyed the book more if it had focused more on human examples instead.

Additionally, it felt as though Roach wanted the reader to view the topic as strange or “out there,” but in reality, it isn’t. There are hundreds of books on this topic, and with the rise of the death-positive movement, more and more people are discussing death and their wishes for what happens after they die.

Overall, this is an excellent introduction for anyone interested in the various methods of disposing of our dead.