Dirt: A Social History as Seen Through the Uses and Abuses of Dirt

I am so happy that I finally got my hands on this book. Europe was a filthy cesspool as late as the 19th century. A complete nasty dump. The people were dirty. Bathing, for the most part, was non existent due to lack of water. The elites were equally dirty, not bathing for months. The people lived with animals, and if you walked by any open window or door, you might get splattered with urine and poop.Their filthy ways facilitated the the various plaques that decimated the population, later on cholera wrecked havoc on the people. It's an easy, quick read. Can you believe that physicians used as a remedy for the plague the consumption of puss of the dying? Gross.I highly recommend. It's an easy,

This book my Mr McLaughlin is a book I have been after for some 10-15 years. I actually read some of its quotes in older books which is why i have been searching for it for such a long time. When you read its content its not hard to fanam why it is so difficult to get your hand on such an informative and insightful book. Europeans really like to hide behind these types of unhealthy practices. It exposes the reality of Britain's lack of hygiene and sanitation, especially during the colonial period when they were going around the world to CLEAN UP their so-called colonial savages and barbarians lives, to become upright subjects for the British Empire. It gives us insight into the reality of horse and cart transportation and coaches; and how animal mess (waste) on the road of major cities as London, Edinburgh and many towns where often times left there for months, causing rats and others pests to live off these unhealthy waste derivatives. The plagues in Britain were caused due to the lack of health and hygiene levels which meant no system of cleanliness was established until after the WWI, which is pretty late for a people that pride themselves on clean cities. The book is a must for anyone that wants to understand the filth that the aristocracy were living under; never mind the poor - simple things such as washing your hands was so uncommon. King James who wrote the Bible had filthy finger nails and had a habit of scratching his privates in public and wanting to feed people with the same hands. Under Charles the I and II they wore wigs due to the unkempt hair under their wigs which caused their hair to fall out so to replace it with Jerry Curls in order to hide their dirty and disgusting hair which was falling out due to the lack of attention it received. Queen Lizzy I baths twice a year whether she needed it or not and the use of perfume was considered sacrilege because baptism was to keep you pure for the rest of you life, supposedly while perfume was a web of the devil.I would recommend anyone that is serious about health and hygiene to purchase this book and teach it to others, as it helps to understand why plagues and other health concerns kept the mortality rate high, and why people did not live for long in this country. Things such as toilets and wash hand basin are only recent innovation in Europe it is no wonder why the Moors were the only inhabitants in Europe that did not get affected by the plague that ravaged Europe on several occasions.A Must Read!

definitely paints a very different picture of medieval europe...not a pretty one either...

Probably several before you have finished this fascinating trip down the toilet and beyond. It is a history of how have polluted our homes and planet - and a warning of what’s ahead if we don’t change our ways.

I loved this book. McLaughlin offers this information without much opinion, exaggeration or minimization. He plainly offers the history with eye-witness accounts and supporting documentation throughout. It was a page turner all the way through. I learned so much that I thought I already knew but had only scraped the surface until now.

I was kind of upset that the book didnt come with the paper cover. (as shown on pix)I thought i had the wrong book. Other than that service was good

When I read this book, it confirmed other readings about Europe and their early development. Add this to your collection immediately. Cleansing was definitely not their priority.

Oh my goodness!! No wonder its so costly. Truth, facts about the hybrid European. Great book

Great brought this why it came out fifty years ago really pleased to see it as a ebook in getting y a bit and finding it hard to hold books for a long period so it very useful so I can place it on my stand and read with ease .this books an old friend a great read and really make you think how did we manage to survive the past clean it was not I mean nextdoor toilet empty ing into your cellar !

one of the most well researched books I have read