- Hardcover: 272 pages
- Publisher: Portobello Books Ltd; First Edition edition (1 Sep 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1846270693
- ISBN-13: 978-1846270697
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.4 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
252,198 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5 in Books > Science & Nature > Engineering & Technology > Environmental > Sewage
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"'Few are the writers brave and bold enough to take on so difficult - but so endlessly fascinating - a topic as the story of human waste. Rose George has risen to this particular challenge, and her book, like a literary treatment farm, turns the completely unpalatable into something utterly irresistible.' Simon Winchester"
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'
'An extraordinary investigation that raises awareness about a crisis that causes more deaths than TB, Aids or malaria'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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...
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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.
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.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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
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 on 19 Sep 2009 by Howard Somerville
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 on 17 April 2009 by F. M. Palmer
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 on 7 April 2009 by Alice Cadis
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 this... Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2009 by M. Slade
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