The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History

Where's this book been?
by Katherine Ashenburg | Nonfiction |
ISBN: 086547690X Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 3/6/2016
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, March 6, 2016
I got this fair-condition hardcover from Better World Books, another "biography of things". It's about the concept of cleanliness, as practiced throughout history - and has a lot to say about perceptions of cleanliness from esthetic, healthful, and even moral viewpoints. It highlights the fairly recent developments in typical American ideas of proper grooming - many of which were explicitly conjured up by marketing (surprise!), has some entertaining historical anecdotes, and in general is a lot of fun.

Sadly, the book focuses on Western culture, admitting up front that it "only glances" at oriental cultures and their habits, and even then mostly from the viewpoint of Westerners who've encountered their cultures. But there's still plenty here to inform and amuse.

The book's studded with sidebar notes, some of which are vastly entertaining. This is the kind of book that makes me want to go Googling for more on many different topics - and that's a good thing!

Soap ads, sacred shrines, cultural taboos, the development of plumbing, scratch-and-sniff body odor scents... what's not to like about this book? {grin}

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Released 7 yrs ago (2/28/2017 UTC) at Nashua, New Hampshire USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm adding this book to the Biographies of Things bookbox, which will be on its way to its next stop soon. Hope someone enjoys it!

Journal Entry 3 by winghyphen8wing at Honolulu, Hawaii USA on Friday, June 9, 2017
Taken from the Biographies of Things box with thanks: this one was on my wishlist. :D

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.