Remaking the John: The Invention and Reinvention of the Toilet

by Francesca Davis DiPiazza

Did you know that about 40 percent of the world's population lives without toilets? That's more than two billion people, most of whom live in rural areas or crowded urban slums. And according to the World Health Organization, diseases spread by the lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. In particular, diarrheal diseases kill more than two million people each year, most of them children.

Everyone needs to go to the bathroom, and from the citizens of the world's earliest human settlements to astronauts living on the International Space Station, the challenge has been the same: how to safely and effectively dispose of human body wastes. Toilet history includes everything from the hunt for the causes of infectious disease to twenty-first-century marvels of engineering.

In Remaking the John , you'll explore the many ways people across the globe and through the ages have invented―and reinvented―the toilet. You will learn about everything from ancient Roman sewers to the world's first flush toilets. You'll also find out about the twenty-first-century Reinvent the Toilet Challenge―an engineering contest designed to spur creation of an ecologically friendly, water-saving, inexpensive, and sanitary toilet. And while you're at it, mark World Toilet Day on your calendar. Observed every November 19, this international day of action works to raise awareness about the modern world's many sanitation challenges.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Childrens, Health

64 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Francesca Davis DiPiazza is an author and editor of books for young readers. She has written several Visual Geography Series® titles, including Mali in Pictures, Sudan in Pictures, Libya in Pictures, New Zealand in Pictures, and Zimbabwe in Pictures.

Reviews

[Lucas Branzoleski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought that a book about toilets would be so interesting.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun facts.

[Aleap · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the pits and pots of 4,000 years ago and the garderobes of the 12th century to the invention of the flush toilet and the Gates Foundation sponsored "Reinvent the Toilet" challenge, DiPiazza covers a long and fascinating history of society's successes and failures at waste management. Each chapter, focusing on a noteworthy era in our global history of relieving ourselves, begins with a quote drawn from various historical sources and contains vibrant blue breakout boxes that provide interesting related facts without interrupting the focus of the chapter. Younger readers may be overwhelmed by all the text but will find relief in skipping from one breakout box to the next. Children will revel in the disturbing stories of defecating in streets overrun with waste, rivers overflowing with muck, the once prolific case of public restrooms, disease, and death. Although the images that are present at the beginning of each new chapter leave something to be desired, the offering of engaging historical illustrations and photos throughout are attractive and sizable, taking up anywhere from a third to three-quarters of a page. All images are appropriately captioned and the text itself is straightforward and accessible; words that may be unfamiliar to young readers are largely defined within the text. Source notes, a selected bibliography, book and digital resources for further reading, and an index all round out the back matter.

[Annalee Schnebele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book about the history of sanitation and the toilet will be an easy sell to upper elementary and middle school students who are looking for something out of the ordinary. I don't know if I just happen to already know a lot about sanitation, sewers, and cholera, but I don't think I found that many facts that made me stop and share what I was reading - but this will probably not be a problem for the book's target audience. While it is about human waste, the book is surprisingly not too icky, and I actually didn't have much problem reading the book at lunch today.

Recommended for middle school students who want a quick read about a topic we often don't talk about.

[katyjanereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. I read another book about poop called Poop Happened. Poop Happened basically had all of the same information as this book, but was even better and more extensive.
2. Poop Happened is longer so this book would be good for a kid who wanted something shorter.
3. One difference is that this book talked about the newest technology. It is raising awareness about other countries and their lack of sanitation and how we can do better in the US.
4. I did read the same information in Poop Happened but this was a good refresher.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. I was expecting more pictures, though. That seems like a strange complaint, wanting more photos of toilets. However, the image on the cover was what drew me in. I thought I'd see more images and diagrams of toilets throughout history and around the world. Still, the text was clear, comprehensive and well-researched.

[Emily Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read this book, I learned more about the toilet than I ever had expected to learn. I also ended up being confronted with the hard facts of toilets and sanitation in poorer communities than the one I currently live in. Needless to say, this book was much more interesting than I expected it to be.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book on the history of sanitation and toilets. I love the cover and wish there was more pictures throughout the book. That being said, I think it was very informative, and something that would keep many boys reading.

[Heather Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remaking the John is an informative book about the past, present and future of the toilet and sewage systems of the world. This is no silly book for little kids- there are plenty of facts, figures and ideas for older kids and teens to learn about this important technology.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick look at the history of toilets and efforts made towards more sanitary methods of disposing of human waste. A brief but interesting read!

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely done history of the toilet (and human waste management in general). Attractive presentation, authoritative research and a great last chapter on the importance of access to sanitation in the developing world.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, informative, and often humorous introduction to the history of toilets and the issues of sanitation that continue to plague the modern world. Short--about 55 pages of content.

[Janie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting and relevant, but not pleasant to consider. Good book for the topic.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book about the evolution of the toilet & the septic system!

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very engaging read on the history of the toilet! Totally planning to write a book talk for this title. Grade recommendation: 6-8, maybe 5-8.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC supplied by publisher via NetGalley