All That Remains: A Life in Death

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Photograph: Morgan Silk Sue Black: forensic work is ‘a job that nobody else in their right minds would ever want to do’. The book considers death in its clinical and personal aspects: the seven stages of postmortem alteration and the challenges of identifying the sex and age of remains; versus her own experiences with losing her grandmother, uncle and parents. I'm so glad that I got around to reading this difficult, but powerful read, and I would definitely recommend it, as I think it might surprise people, at just how interesting death, and all the science surrounding it, actually is. Towards the end of the book there might be a little too much academic politicking for some readers, even those who have already winced at the gruesomeness. Her no-nonsense practicality towards death and the human corpse gives the whole book a grounding that lifts it out of some kind of macabre show into a very necessary and frank discussion about what happens when we're dead, whether that be by fair or foul means.

She uses key cases to reveal how forensic science has developed and what her work has taught her about human nature. I do wish there were more illustrations, however - I had to Google some interesting cases she mentions, such as the 'Brienzi' body and the bones of a Roman woman who died giving birth to triplets. The book also documents the author’s time spent in Kosovo and some of the atrocities witnessed there. To książka autobiograficzna Sue Black, w której niewiele znalazło się miejsca dla opisania pracy antropologa sądowego, za to historie rodzinne autorki ciągną się całymi rozdziałami. just do it in a straightforward manner and every year or so continue to express your plans have not changed.As Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, she focuses on mortal remains in her lab, at burial sites, at scenes of violence, murder and criminal dismemberment, and when investigating mass fatalities due to war, accident or natural disaster. She gives us some backstory as to how she became interested in studying the anatomy of the deceased and also personal stories about deaths occurring in her family. Really enjoyed this one, lots of interesting information on forensic anthropology and also on the role they play in natural disasters and wars/civil unrest. This starts off with a very good intro introduction to death in general and forensic anthropology in particular. Asides from this moment of shared bloodshed between Sue Black and I, I had a great time with this book.

Highly recommended for anyone worn down by the cynicism of today's uncaring and sensationalist news reporting, and for those who have a fear of death. I love that she talks about the cognitive and emotional difficulties of the job and the strategies she uses for her own mental health.You are left with the feeling throughout this book that few people in the world know more about her subject than Sue Black.

I lost my Nan to dementia, and it was a long, painful five years that she endured it, until she died peacefully in hospital, next to my Mum. She uses chilling terms like when someone "no longer has value" "and "doesn't want to be a burden" or really just doesn't want to live anymore. Apparently it's hard to cut up/saw through a corpse without scratching the bath surface and it's very difficult to clean all the necessary drainage parts.A mixture of Mary Roach's Stiff and Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, this book discusses the author's personal interactions with the dead, but also what her work has taught her about what it means to be alive.