In "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers," Mary Roach explores the relationship between the living and the deceased, offering a unique perspective on death. She expresses a preference for the company of the dead over the dying, as the latter can trigger fear and discomfort surrounding their impending fate. Roach suggests that engaging with cadavers can be a more straightforward experience, devoid of the emotional turbulence often associated with dying individuals.

Roach highlights the ease of being around cadavers, noting that they lack the pain and existential dread present in those on the brink of death. Once acclimated to the physical presence of the deceased, many find that there is a certain comfort in accepting their existence without the burden of awkward conversations. This candid examination reveals the complexities of our perceptions of mortality and the human body, and Roach encourages readers to reconsider their feelings towards death and what it means to engage with the remains of life.