The Big Necessity

As someone who loves the microhistories of Mary Roach, I was hoping for a fast-paced, witty story about toilets, waste, sanitation, etc. While it wasn't quite as compelling as Ms. Roach's books, the story was fascinating none the less. I was shocked to learn how many people lack basic sanitation & toilets - not even latrines or holes in the ground. I also enjoyed the multi-cultural perspective - looking at toileting & sanitation habits in various parts of the world. Jumping from the heated, musical bidets of Japan to the toilet crisis in India was jarring and produced the desired effect: being blindsided by the disparity in global sanitation.

Rather than use euphemisms or focus on clean water without addressing how the water is dirtied in the first place, Rose George forces us to confront the most basic of human needs: a place to shit. Minus 2 stars for the tedious writing (the chapter on India had so many acronyms I started skimming pages), but overall a worthwhile read for anyone interested in humanitarian or environmental issues.

Fascinating investigation of toilets and sanitation systems around the world. It might not sound like a savoury topic, but Rose George tells a lot of interesting and important stories. How often do you think about what happens after you flush the toilet? Ever considered how it's handled around the world? Lack of adequate and hygienic conditions lead to more deaths a year than AIDS, TB or malaria. It's an important issue, and one that's very tricky to fix.

When I tell people I'm reading this book, their face would wrinkle in disgust. This, apparently, has to do with a primordial survival instinct to stay the f*** away from excreta as it carries diseases that could probably kill you dead. Yet, most of us modern folks - especially those of us blessed with indoor plumbing and flush toilets - take for granted how hardworking our sewage system is, and how it plays a HUGE role in keeping us healthy, long-lived and comfortable. We'd rather forget about it like the poo we flush down the loo and sniff at the workers keeping the often overworked and overtaxed underground sewage system running.
This book throws the lid off, so to speak. What happens to our shit when we flush it down the loo? What does it take to keep the sewage system running (more than you think, and a little frightening to think that it's almost always close to collapse), and what happens if it stops working (bad stuff. Bad, bad stuff). It's also disconcerting to realise that modern civilisation still has no idea what to do with the tonnes of shit human beings we produce. (The poor sea. Should I even eat fish anymore, really?)
Still, I have to thank the Lord that I live in a country where there are flush toilets. The chapters about India's sanitation problems made my eyes bleed and my tummy hurt. No offence, but I'm not going to India anytime soon as my very sensitive stomach would probably not survive the trip.
So, next time when you flush that toilet, say thank you. It's literally saving your life.