The Big Necessity

By Rose George,

Book cover of The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters

Book description

Produced behind closed doors, disposed of discreetly, hidden by euphemism, shit is rarely out in the open in 'civilized' society, but the world of waste - and the people who deal with it, work with it and in it - is a rich one.This book takes us underground to the…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

2 authors picked The Big Necessity as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This superb book was one of the first to raise the issue of how poorly we’ve considered our waste and what to do with it, and it was a big inspiration for me.

It’s thoughtful and incredibly well-researched, packed full of amazing historical details, and provides a compelling case for how and why we should get our shit together—literally. I learned so much from this book, and it really encouraged me to keep digging and exploring how we might reimagine our human output. Just an excellent read and a compelling case for change.  

This is the book that rocked the boat and broke the taboos surrounding the topic of human bodily excretions. The book dug into the stinky topic with dignity and candor, clearly explaining how crucial sanitation is to human health, life, and wellness. Rose George took us around the globe, unveiling the cultures, traditions, and inhibitions surrounding human toilet habits. And in doing so, she graphicly portrayed how lack of sanitation threatens human life, and kills more people than any single disease. I found this book to be a sanitation inspiration and indispensable primer on humanity’s big necessity. And I loved…

Want books like The Big Necessity?

Our community of 10,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Big Necessity.

Browse books like The Big Necessity

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in sociology, poop, and presidential biography?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about sociology, poop, and presidential biography.

Sociology Explore 139 books about sociology
Poop Explore 10 books about poop
Presidential Biography Explore 18 books about presidential biography