The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters

by Rose George | Nonfiction |
ISBN: 0805082719 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 5/4/2013
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4 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Saturday, May 4, 2013
I got this fair-condition ex-library hardcover from Better World Books. While I wouldn't say I'm fascinated with the subject, I do think it's deserving of attention, whether in the somewhat more frivolous vein of What's Your Poo Telling You? or in this book, which addresses the global problem of sanitation.

It opens with a clear look at the difference between places where toilet facilities are a right and where they're a privilege - sometimes a rare one, and not that comfortable even then. The book delves into sewers and latrines - and open ditches or even streets, in some places - to see what happens to our excreta; it examines toilets in different parts of the world, from the top-of-the-line robo toilets in Japan (which can wash your bottom for you, among other things) to basic squat-over-a-hole facilities; it looks at cultural attitudes towards toilets and towards our output, which is collected as "night soil" in some places and used as fertilizer, while in others it's flushed away in an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude.

The book examines the immense problem of sanitation in parts of the world without access to plentiful, clean water; the concept of dry toilets or self-composting toilets seems alien to my water-flush-trained mind at first, but it makes a LOT of sense. The efforts to supply well-designed toilets of this type to the places that need them is another theme of the book.

Another topic: public restrooms, which even in the wealthy West are not as readily available as they could - and should be. Concerns about theft and vandalism, about illegal activities, etc. tend to limit the number of toilets made available to the public in the US. Since this is such a basic need - and since the absence of access can lead to some very unpleasant consequences - it would be nice to see an improvement in this area.

Farther along the author goes into the basis for some cultures' attitudes about human waste, noting "disgust is probably the least studied of all human emotions". (And then goes on to mention a book about it, which I may look up one of these days {wry grin}.) Is it learned, or innate, or some of each? (I'd vote for the latter.) Its influence on toilet habits is, obviously, huge, but while it's a good idea to be careful about waste, it's not helpful to refuse to think about it. And in the book, the author notes a very interesting anecdote that illustrates denial as well as disgust - people can put up with a lot as long as they can pretend they don't know what's actually involved.

There's a lot more here, including sections on the problems of affluent effluent - waste-processing facilities now need to deal with high levels of hormones and antibiotics from all the medicines we take and then excrete (or just throw away). Whether dealing with that kind of problem or with basic sanitation in a crowded refugee camp, it's definitely a big necessity.

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, January 10, 2014

Released 10 yrs ago (1/10/2014 UTC) at Nashua, New Hampshire USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm putting this book in the Biographies of Things bookbox; see the bookbox journal for the full list of my choices and contributions. Hope someone enjoys this!

Journal Entry 3 by wingMelydiawing at Centreville, Virginia USA on Sunday, June 14, 2015
This arrived in the Biography of Things bookbox. I don't think I'll be reading it, but I wanted to journal it because it looks like the box is going to be hanging out with me until 6of8 restarts the bookbox later this year.

Journal Entry 4 by wingMelydiawing at Centreville, Virginia USA on Saturday, August 29, 2015

Released 8 yrs ago (8/29/2015 UTC) at Centreville, Virginia USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Passing the Biography of Things bookbox back to 6of8 today.

Journal Entry 5 by wing6of8wing at Silver Spring, Maryland USA on Saturday, September 5, 2015
I picked up the book box from Melydia last weekend and I am hoping to get it back on the road again soon.

Journal Entry 6 by wing6of8wing at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Monday, September 21, 2015

Released 8 yrs ago (9/21/2015 UTC) at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is now back in the Biography of Things bookbox and on the way to quietorchid in Minnesota.

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Journal Entry 7 by winghyphen8wing at Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Monday, February 1, 2016
Taken from the latest incarnation of MaryZee's Biographies of Things box with thanks. We'll see how far I get with this one..

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