Astonishing and Extinct Professions: 89 Jobs You Will Never Do

by Markus Rottmann, Michael Meister (Illustrator), Ashley Curtis (Translator)

The jobs we've lost are windows into the past Gladiators fought for glory. Ice harvesters chopped up lakes. In the USA, human computers, called rocket women, calculated the paths of the spaceships with pen and paper. All these jobs really existed. Now they are gone. This is a book of extraordinary periods in history on six continents. It spans the centuries of the professional fartists and the walking toilets, of the brave riders of the Pony Express, and the lazy ornamental hermits. Marvel at Germany’s feared coffee detectives and London’s dreaded executioners. The stories Mandarins, Wailing women, Body snatchers, Executioners, Whipping boys, Explorers, Walking toilets, Object swallowers, Fartists, Powder monkeys, Armpit-hair pluckers and many more...

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Picture Books, Juvenile, Childrens

88 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2023

Reviews

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some jobs have gone extinct over the years. Princes don't need a whipping boy to take their punishments. Modern sewers have done away with massive rat populations and rat catchers. Grand estates don't find it fashionable anymore to hire an ornamental hermit to live in a cave grotto. Since the invention of the refrigerator, we don't need ice harvesters to bring ice into the city. Most people do their own crying at funerals, instead of hiring wailing women to cry. Thanks to modern plumbing, we don't need to hire anyone to shovel waste out of our toilets. Now that most people can read newspapers, we don't need balladeers or town criers to shout out the daily news.

I found it fascinating to read about all the weird professions that have existed throughout history! I liked the funny illustrations, but some of the designs are kind of weird. Some people's eyeballs look like they are going in different directions or about to pop out of their head. They have weird expressions on their faces that don't really match the task they are doing.

Some of these jobs haven't exactly gone extinct though, they have just developed into a new version of the same basic job. There are still butlers and housekeepers and cooks in grand houses or hotels. There are still sponge divers, paperboys, hatters/milliners, and tower watchmen who look out for fires. There are still explorers, pyrotechnicians, and elevator operators. Some of those professions have changed, and some are just more rare than they used to be. Still, it was neat to see how the job used to be done or used to be more popular.

I did not like the section about "itinerant preachers". The text hinted that they were crazy or foolish for believing in God, and that people who were "insecure" were fooled by their preaching. They could have given the historical facts without the anti-Christian bias.

There is also a timeline section that says that "Six million years ago, the first human species developed in Africa." They do not explain that that idea is a theory. It is not proven fact. They present it as if it were a fact. This makes me wonder what else in the book they are presenting as fact when it's actually just a theory or hearsay. They could have just made it clear what part of the book is fact and what part is theory. I wish that the text were more reliable.

There is also a section about executioners, which says "It has been proven that it [the death penalty] does not deter criminals, so the same amount of crime will happen whether this cruel punishment exists or not." I would be very interested to see their sources on that. I've never heard of a study like that proving that the death penalty makes no difference to crime rates.

Unfortunately, there are NO sources whatsoever offered in this book. No proof of anything. So it's a fun book, but I would not trust it for your history textbook.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Mackenzie Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of creepy illustrations (imo)

Interesting and entertaining but I think it glosses over too many serious things, such as the connection of wet nurses to slavery, for example. This could be because it was originally published in Germany, rather than the United States; it is definitely European-centric and feels a little out-of-reach for USA readers. (which is fine, not every book has the same intended audience. I'm just evaluating it for a Utah-based award and it's something I noticed.)

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely learned new things: the “whalebone” used in clothing was actually the whale’s baleen, today’s witches’ outfits come from alewives who made and sold beer wearing high hats so they would be seen more readily and carrying brooms and other domestic items to sell too, and an executioner’s job was kept in the family by being required to marry into other executioners’ families and passing on the profession to your sons. I would recommend for middle schools more than elementary schools. Also, I know my older eyes are to blame, but I found the text colors against some of the background colors just too hard to read easily. The opening endpapers list all the included professions in mostly page-number order, and the closing endpapers list the introductory question for each profession in a seemingly random order.

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look at weird, outdated, and often gross professions of the past. Each has text that explains the particulars of the professions and the historical context, as well as amusing illustrations that do a great job bringing those professions to life.

Some professions get a single page of info that consists of a paragraph of text along with an illustration, some get a two-page spread that has longer text and a larger illustration, while others, like explorers, take up a two-page spread full of text with minimal illustration in order to give information and context.

I will be reading this with my 9-year-old (who will undoubtedly be alternately grossed out and delighted) and look forward to reporting his reactions here.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Helvetiq for providing an early copy for review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing book of jobs that just aren’t done anymore, such as switchboard operator and Urine washers. The only one I disagree with being extinct is the milkman, as I know they still exist in the UK. Don’t know if there are any left in the US, but I am old enough to remember milk being delivered, which makes me feel ancient.

What is interesting is a lot of the jobs I have heard of, and for example, Whipping Boy is still used as an expression today, to mean someone who gets all the punishments. But Roddarmadams, who knew about them. (Women who rowed people around Sweden.) or Abtrittanbieter (walking toilets, people who carried buckets around for people to use. And of course, the rich, who employ men to be ornamental hermits, like living garden gnomes.

This is a cool book that talks about the profession, and why it came to an end, such as how human computers gave way to electronic ones, and how switch boards gave way to dialing the phone yourself.

There was even a section about jobs that look liek they are aout to go away, such as mail carriers being replaced by drones, and train drivers that might be replaced by automation.

Great book for all ages, really, though it appears to be meant for about middle school age.

Thanks to Netgalley formaking this book available for an honest review. This is coming out the 1st of August 2023 from Helvetiq.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richly illustrated, this book features many professions that are no longer needed, or at least not needed much anymore. Some professions became obsolete because of manufacturing, indoor plumbing, or electricity. Others just went out of fashion or became unprofitable. Some professions have evolved: alchemists became scientists, privateers became mercenaries, Bow Street Runners became police officers, and more.
The professions are broken down into sections; dirty professions, service professions, the history of professions, forbidden professions, child-labor professions, and endangered professions. Details include hatters poisoned by the mercury in the felts and skins, leading to the slang “Mad Hatters” (though at the time it was not known why many of them acted strangely). Bobbies earned their nickname from founder Minister Robert “Bob” Peel, who based the Metropolitan Police force on the Bow Street Runners they replaced. Both interesting and entertaining, this book has something for everyone.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

This book was a fun ride to some really strange, sometimes disgusting, sometimes heart breaking jobs of yesteryear.

I found it very interesting and informative.

My only criticism is the the little side note paragraphs are not only tiny, but hard to read with the graphics behind it. I think those little side notes are essential to the job it is describing.

I have good eye sight and I struggled reading the little asides. Don't make me have to pull out a magnifying class to read the book. lol

The illustrations are a little odd, but it works because this book is fill with the odd.

Still I give this book a thumbs up and will recommend it.!

[SOYAMRG · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fun coffee table book takes a look at professions that are extinct, or have changed so much that they no longer resemble their early beginnings.

I was filled with nostalgia for some jobs, looking at you video-rental clerk, and others. The back end-papers include leading questions that connect the reader to various occupations. The oversized nature of this book makes it difficult to shelve but perfect for sitting on bed-side or coffee tables.

As a researcher at heart, I do wish the author included sources for the information and further recommended reads.

An optional purchase for libraries

M.R.
School Librarian

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall very interesting, but the section on whale bones made some generalizations about cetaceans, the story of Abubakari II crossing the Atlantic was presented as fact when from what I can see is just a theory, and from other reviews it appears that there is a complete lack of sources, and not just something that can be contributed to a NetGalley ARC. All this therefore makes me question the validity of the rest of the information. It was also difficult to read some of the lighter text.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Helvetiq for the ARC.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has always fascinated me how jobs come and go when society changes in some way; I can still remember seeing a video that collected 8mm films that were shown to high school students in the early 50's - and one of the jobs for consideration was milkman! This book looks at professions that no longer exist (court jester, silhouette artist, candle trimmer, torch boy, video store rental employee...). No doubt there will be other jobs added to this list in the decades to come.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I learned a lot of interesting (and kind of gross) things about professions from the past. Armpit hair plucker? No thank you. The format is great, with illustrations of the job, along with little side bars and a few paragraphs with the main information. It would be a great read for students who like to read a little bit of information at a time or who like weird, gross things. 5th grade and up.

[Lisa Gisèle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC thanks to Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really adore history, and this book kept me entertained. I also would mind being a professional griever or a garden hermit. This is a fun book and answers many questions about how things got done in the past. The jobs mostly make sense, I just never questioned who did them or how they were done.

[emyrose8 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super neat. Really strange but authentic professions across history. The end papers are remarkable: front shows pictures of each of the jobs, end shows picture clues and a question to see how many of the jobs you can remember. Good blend of illustrations and small chunks of text. High interest book for middle schoolers (and maybe even high schoolers).

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

89 extinct jobs from urine washers to waker-uppers to fartists...
Fascinating! I think it would be fun to share a few pages with each grade, K-5.
There's a nice spread on pony express riders for 4th grade
A great spread on child labor to tie in with 5th grade curriculum
Another Beehive award nominee

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc from netgalley.

This was a really fun book. It mixes the "You Wouldn't Want" series with the "Eyewitness" books to offer an eye-opening, frank look at weird and forgotten jobs throughout history.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids will love exploring this book – especially for the gross professions (urine washers, leech collectors, fartists, and abtrittanbieters) and the absurd (hunger artists, wailing women, claquers, and ornamental hermits).

[AJ]

it does talk about how bad european waste disposal was for centuries, so that was fun.

there are some not great illustrations of chinese people though, and it cannot be stressed enough that they didn't cite sources.

[Annajune · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book of all the jobs you cannot have because they no longer exist. You cannot be a whipping boy, royal food taster (not a long career usually), plague doctor, etc. Fun book with interesting facts and history of jobs.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great children’s book on extinct jobs from yesteryear and somewhat modern times.

[BiblioBrandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Learned a lot (favorite extinct profession = Alewives). Loved the illustrations. Students laugh while reading it (who knew there was once a job as a fartist!).

[Carol Krueger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of 89 jobs you will never do (plus or minus some that might still exist - milkman/woman).

[Library To-Go]

JDC - 07/25/24

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 Beehive Book Nominee: Informational
fascinating!

[Mark Tadder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of these jobs are hilarious. Of course, I think I'm actually doing a couple of them still. Chimney sweep. Court Jester and of course garden hermit. Yeah the garden hermit is for sure

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is heavily skewed towards Western Europe and American for its examples, but I am enthralled with this book! By reading about 80 plus extinct professions, I learned a lot about history, economics, and class privilege.

Of course, I new about some of these now-extinct professions such as the wet nurse, the milk man, the newspaper boy, the telephone operator. However, I had no idea that these jobs existed: fallones (Romans who washed aristocrats robes in human urine), abtrittanbieters (people with big capes that gave people on the street privacy to urinate or deficate), ornamental hermits (rich Europeans paid people to live in grottos on their large estates), and fartists (people who played "music" by farting for an audience).

Rich people do CRAZY and exploitative things with their money.

In addition to Markus Rottmann describing these professions and Michael Meister illustrating them, there are sections that discuss the definition of "profession" and how they evolve. The professions are listed in chronological order, and the last "extinct" profession is the Video-rental clerk. The book ends with some speculation about professions that are at risk of disappearing.

The inside cover in the back (and the last page) lists objects from the book with questions such as mask with the question, "Who laughed at funerals" with the page number to test the readers' memory and to help them further interact with the book.

This is a very good book for readers of all ages.

[Reading With Yeti · Rating 5 out of 5]

From wailing women to armpit hair pluckers, this book helps us explore astonishing jobs that used to exist (which were vital) back in the days!
As an adult myself, I have learned many new facts by just reading this book! The book not only gives details of each job but also includes fun facts and why these jobs have ceased to exist .
In my opinion, I find this book fascinating. It is incredible to learn about some weird, outdated, and surprising professions. This book layout reminds me of children's encyclopedia books from a couple of decades ago. Since every information is available by one click on the internet, we rarely see these exciting books anymore. You can call me old-fashioned, but I wouldn't mind having this book and anybooks that reminds me of those encyclopedias (even though the information is easily found in our fingertips nowadays 📱)
A must-have book in our library!

Special thank you to NetGalley and Helvetiq for providing an opportunity to read an early copy for review.