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The Big Necessity: Adventures in the World of Human Waste
 
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The Big Necessity: Adventures in the World of Human Waste (Paperback)

by Rose George (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
Price: £9.09 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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  • This item: The Big Necessity: Adventures in the World of Human Waste by Rose George

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

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Product Description

Louis Boorstin, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

"This engaging, highly readable book puts sanitation in its proper place - as a central challenge in human development."


Review

'A revealing global study that's thoroughly researched and written with both wit and moral seriousness'

'An extraordinary investigation that raises awareness about a crisis that causes more deaths than TB, Aids or malaria'
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The Big Necessity: Adventures in the World of Human Waste
83% buy the item featured on this page:
The Big Necessity: Adventures in the World of Human Waste 4.7 out of 5 stars (7)
£9.09
The Big Necessity: Adventures in the World of Human Waste: The World of Shit
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The Big Necessity: Adventures in the World of Human Waste: The World of Shit 4.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£6.41
Bad Science
3% buy
Bad Science 4.5 out of 5 stars (202)
£3.58
Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What it Says About Us)
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Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What it Says About Us) 4.0 out of 5 stars (11)
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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Dirty Secret, 19 Sep 2008
By L. Mello - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I never thought I'd enjoy a book about human waste - but this book has proven that a good author can tell a fascinating story about anything. I think Rose George is very brave for addressing a very unsexy subject -- and the facts are powerful: what good is clean drinking water if 2.6 billion people in this world live in contaminated environments due to their own lack of toilets? This is thought-provoking stuff which - if taken seriously and acted upon - could change the lives of billions...
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Real Environmentalism, 18 Sep 2008
By J. Swain - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Almost as entertaining as it is fascinating. I say almost as I read most of the book in one session whilst stranded on an airport runway for 3 hours. In one sitting (pun intended) the topic does have the unfortunate effect of making one feel slightly nauseous at times.

If only there were more of this kind of reporting/writing about environmental issues, I would take more of an interest. This book puts into context how really serious issues are never dealt with when a nice picture of a poor fluffy polar bear and a "carbon footprint" calculator will do instead.

One can feel the sense of frustration of Rose and the people in the book at just how hard it is to make progress on such an important issue.

Ultimately I am not sure if I am optimistic that work like this will help in finding solutions or whether the book is just a testament to human natures ability to look the other way if problems don't affect them directly.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Food for thought....., 18 Sep 2008
By S. Faulkner (LONDON United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The 'BIG NECESSITY' by Rose George, fearlessly tackles one of the worlds least talked about, yet one of its most important environmental and health issues. The 'BIG NECESSITY' is a journey through the world of human waste where she endeavours to quantify, rationalise and make sense of, how we across the planet choose to dispose of, that which we don't like to talk about. This intelligent, smart and sometimes witty book tackles its subject matter full on and I would 'highly recommend' it to anyone who has a genuine interest in the environment, health and of course public sanitation... a must read !!!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Hubble Bubble, Toilet Trouble
An interesting, lively and very readable account of efforts to solve the largest health issue of the modern world - the safe and economic disposal of human excretia, most of which... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Howard Somerville

5.0 out of 5 stars A Big Necessity indeed
I bought this book for a friend, who urged me to read it. An eye-opening book for someone who enjoys the luxury of two flush toilets. Read more
Published 6 months ago by F. M. Palmer

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read
This book is informative, often funny and you cannot help but be impressed by the efforts that many people have to make simply to carry out this most basic human function and deal... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Alice Cadis

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooray for the water closet
Very interesting book, it really makes you appreciate the water closet that we are all used to. We just take it for granted, but billions of the world's population do not have... Read more
Published 8 months ago by M. Slade

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