Remaking the John: The Invention and Reinvention of the Toilet

Francesca Davis DiPiazza grew up loving the smell of books; but as soon as she saw a computer, she thought, Terrific! more ways to share more words with more people! Online since 1994, she still uses an orange 1970s rotary-dial phone. One of her cultural geography books for Lerner Publishing Group, Zimbabwe in Pictures, won the Society of School Librarians International Book Award.

"Doctors agree that the greatest medical advance since 1840 is the toilet and sewers. We use these marvels of modern hygiene without appreciating their essential role. At first, bad air, mostly from sewage, was thought to be the cause of typhoid, cholera, and other ills. When the connection was made to microorganisms in the water, cities made dramatic changes. The current search for inexpensive, perhaps waterless toilets, and several options under consideration are explained. The details of sanitary progress are carefully described, with humor when appropriate. Numerous photos are helpful in picturing ancient facilities and modern plants. Source notes as well as an index and other resources including free material from the publisher round out this nicely paced, informative book which can be the basis for reports and for enjoyable browsing."―starred, School Library Connection

"A brief history of the crapper. The toilet and its use has been called pretty much everything under the sun, from thunder bowl to 'plucking a rose,' when the outhouse was located in the garden. DiPiazza covers them all in her illuminating history of the toilet―or, more to the point, disposal of human waste: 'Half a solid pound (0.2 kilograms), plus 47 ounces (1.4 liters) of liquid....that's how much feces and urine an adult human produces, on average, every day.' Those words are from the first two sentences of the book, so the giggles and snorts are dispensed with quickly, and we get down to the very real issue of waste and health. As humans took to settlements and populations increased, sewage became an instant issue. DiPiazza goes back to Deuteronomy for some historical setting before soldiering through most known waste disposal tools and systems. Lurking always is waste-bred disease, like plague and cholera, which really step hard on the giggles and snorts. Public health and sanitation become the driving issues, which DiPiazza handles adeptly, with the accompaniment of many fine archival images and illustrations, as well as photographs. A good-spirited, wholly serious broaching of the―incredibly―still taboo subject of human waste, once a problem and even more so today." ―Kirkus Reviews

"DiPiazza brings home how the history of a seemingly ubiquitous object can reveal fundamental and important truths about a society's history and values. Lively text, filled with quotes that acknowledge the humor of the subject at hand, explains the origins of indoor plumbing and the modern toilet. The book subtly encourages reflection on the conveniences of modern life in developed nations as a counterpoint to places in the world where a flush commode is considered a luxury. Photographs of ancient chamber pots, astronaut commodes, early advertisements for toilet paper, and elegant toilet chairs are included. Through a frank discussion of the toilet, lots of peripheral issues are explored, such as the study of infection, disease, developing nations, and the global sanitation crisis. Plenty of resources for further reading are provided in the end matter. DiPiazza successfully elevates the mundane to high-interest reading material, providing ample food for plop. And thought." ―Booklist

"Whether you call it the loo, the privy, the throne, the john, the jakes, or the latrine, the modern toilet is a major contribution to health and convenience. DiPiazza's readable text follows the ancient history of the potty all over the world, in such disparate places as Skara Brae (Scotland), Moheno Daro (Pakistan), and imperial Rome (whose abundant water supply, fine engineering, and Tiber River allowed construction of public toilets with multiple seating!). The fall of Rome apparently meant the fall of the toilet, too, and the following Dark Ages were dark indeed when it came to sanitation. The author goes on to cover the consequences of a lack of properly constructed toilet and sewage systems: diseases, stenches, nasty walking surfaces, and a grossly polluted water supply, among them. She mentions mod cons, such as the space toilet and the decomposting toilet much admired by 'greenies,' and the problems encountered by the millions who have no access to modern sanitation. Blue information boxes focus on such topics as a modern sewage treatment plant, sewer blockages, and toilet paper. Black-and-white and color photos lend visuals. Neither as simple as Connie Miller's colorful Getting to Know Your Toilet: The Disgusting Story Behind Your Home's Strangest Feature (Capstone, 2008) nor as demanding as Sarah Albee's lighthearted but seriously informative Poop Happened!: A History of the World from the Bottom Up (Walker, 2010), this honest, fact-filled little book should attract readers and researchers (who may even begin celebrating World Toilet Day every November 19)." ―School Library Journal