Raymond F. Jones 
The Cybernetic Brains [EPUB ebook] 

THE CYBERNETIC BRAINS WERE ALIVE, ENSLAVED IN TORMENT
It was a super civilization, a Utopia. At its core were the Cybernetic Brains, brains taken from people after their death, dead brains that could feel nothing.
Then engineer Al Demming discovers the truth accidentally, the terrible truth transmitted to him by one of the brains. The brains are in reality living slaves and in terrible torment. It was now up to Demming to stop the inhuman practice.
Just when he planned to make the announcement to the Governing Board, Demming learned that the Board knew about the hideous living death. What was the real reason behind the facade? How could he convince the Board to suspend the system before the Brains revolted and destroyed the world?