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Flushed: How the Plumber Saved Civilization

by W. Hodding Carter

Flushed: How the Plumber Saved Civilization Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:


Hodding Carter writes, The unsung hero of human history was, of course, the Brain of Drains, the Hub of Tubs, the Power of Showers, the Brewer of Sewers...the humble plumber.... The Irish may have saved civilization, once, but plumbers have done so countless times.

When we consider the amenities that really make a difference in our well-being, surely good plumbing must rank near the top. But rarely have we taken the time to appreciate the engineering marvels that bring clean water into our homes with the turn of a tap and wash our waste products away with the flip of a lever. Until now.

Witty, anecdotal, and thoroughly entertaining, Flushed not only chronicles the long and notable history of plumbing, but follows Hodding Carter's travels and travails as he casts his own Roman lead water pipes inspired by the writings of Pliny the Elder, descends into the sewers of London, installs a state-of-the-art Japanese toilet in his bathroom, and fearlessly tries to understand everything about this most underappreciated pillar of civilization.

A winning combination of history, science, and firsthand experience, Flushed will entertain and educate all those who have never contemplated the hidden intricacies of this miracle of everyday technology.

Review:

"Carter is unfailingly good company throughout this genuinely underground history."

-- Will Blythe, author of To Hate Like This Is to Be Happy Forever

Review:

"Delightful."

-- Los Angeles Times

Review:

"Hodding Carter has enough charm to fill a toilet tank, and I don't mean the new 1.6 gallon low-flush. No one else could make me laugh heartily while reading about the miraculous lead pipes of ancient Bath.... Got to love it all."

-- Mary Roach, author of Stiff and Spook

Review:

'\"Witty, enlightening, and just plain fun to read.\"

-- Minneapolis Star Tribune

'

Synopsis:

'\"The unsung hero of human history was, of course, the Brain of Drains, the Hub of Tubs, the Power of Showers, the Brewer of Sewers...the humble plumber.\" — W. Hodding Carter

When we consider the amenities that really make a difference in our well-being, surely good plumbing must rank near the top. But rarely have we taken the time to appreciate the engineering marvels that bring clean water into our homes with the turn of a tap and the flip of a lever. Until now.

Witty, anecdotal, and thoroughly entertaining, Flushed chronicles the long and notable history of plumbing, while following Hodding Carter\'s travels and travails around the most underappreciated pillar of civilization. It\'s a winning combination of history, science, and firsthand experience — a book that will both entertain and educate those who have never contemplated the hidden intricacies of this miracle of everyday technology.

'

Synopsis:

Presenting a quirky and fascinating history of plumbing from the Harappan of the Indus Valley (circa 3000 BC) to the Roman Empire, from Victorian London to modern Boston, this entertaining text also follows the author's own travails in plumbing.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction: Jasmin

Chapter 1: The Humble Plumber

Chapter 2: When Lead Ruled

Chapter 3: Do As the Romans Do

Chapter 4: How We Do It Now

Chapter 5: Foul

Chapter 6: A Tour of the London Sewer

Chapter 7: It Makes Your Garden Grow

Chapter 8: Blame It on the Christians

Chapter 9: The Birth of the Toilet

Chapter 10: "What Was in the Toilet?"

Chapter 11: Touching the Untouchables

Chapter 12: The Power of Poop

Conclusion: Do It for Your Plumber

Postscript: Russell and Jasmin: Uncensored

Selected Bibliography

Acknowledgments

Product Details

ISBN:
9780743474092
Subtitle:
How the Plumber Saved Civilization
Author:
Carter, W. Hodding
Publisher:
Atria Books
Subject:
History
Subject:
Construction - Plumbing
Subject:
World - General
Subject:
General History
Subject:
Plumbing
Subject:
Plumbing -- History.
Subject:
Sewerage - History
Copyright:
Edition Description:
Trade paper
Publication Date:
May 2007
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
241
Dimensions:
8.44x5.60x.64 in. .50 lbs.

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