Nature Calls: The History, Lore, and Charm of Outhouses

by Dottie Booth

The crunch of leaves under your feet, the sounds of nature around you, the smell of . . . well, never mind. In this engaging volume, Dottie Booth answers the call with a one-of-a-kind photographic tour of outhouses and privies around the world. Full of personal stories, historical facts, folklore (what did people use before toilet paper? why the crescent moon?), and over 75 full-color photographs, this book will bring back memories for anyone who has ever used an outhouse, and provide a privy primer for those who haven't. An entertaining and personal portrait of a disappearing part of the landscape, NATURE CALLS is a unique addition to any architectural, photographic, or historical collection.

Genres: History, Architecture

96 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

Reviews

[Rogue Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't need to buy this picture book; thought there would be more sanitation history and fewer pretty doors and dump sites. Interesting though that outhouses command such good prices on the resale market.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and cute.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Humorous and interesting it displayed some rather attractive and even beautiful out houses. It also had an abundance of funny and/or interesting facts about the topic. Who knew about outhouse races or that porkupines are their number one enemy.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short read about outhouses throughout the world. It's pretty amusing. Lots of anecdotes, poetry, pictures and random facts about the history of outhouses. Definitely amusing.

[Allen Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about history while reading this little book. The where, what, when & hows of "privys" & what have become of our " little rooms" - very well done