Poop Culture: How America Is Shaped by Its Grossest National Product

by Dave Praeger, Paul Provenza (Foreword)

Is “The Origin of Feces” a Darwinian concern? Perhaps not, but it is the title to the preface of this tongue-in-cheek and unexpectedly revealing exploration of human behavior by the webmaster behind the popular PoopReport.com. This book is not a history of poop, but a study of today. Its goal is to understand how poop affects us, how we view it, and why; to appreciate its impact from the moment it slides out of our anal sphincters to the moment it enters the sewage treatment plant; to explore how we’ve arrived at this strange discomfort and confusion about a natural product of our bodies; to see how this contradiction—the natural as unnatural—shapes our minds, relationships, environment, culture, economics, media, and art. Paul Provenza, the director of The Aristocrats, says in his “It’s shocking to think that a book about poop can be considered an act of courage. But it is. Most of us have knee-jerk responses to the topic that we are not even aware of. Attitudes that, like the awful stench of poop itself, permeate all of society and culture. This book has some very profound and beautiful things to say. It takes a dirty, smelly, unpleasant subject like shit and brings forth ideas that are empowering, dignifying and life affirming.”

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor

232 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2007

Reviews

[SeriouslyJerome · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who gave me this book?

Not just another poop humor book. In fact not a humor book at all. The first few chapters might produce giggles, but this really is about poop in our culture as the title suggests.

It was very informative, & interesting for this poop fascinated person. Especially the chapter on poop in our current culture & the future possibilities - like foam flush toilets that use half as much water, or sewage systems that compost that poop. I didn't know you could compost human poop! A person could even do it in their own backyard with a 3 bin system! The implications for our economy if we could reuse our poop is amazing! And it wouldn't even change how/where we poop! Just where it goes! Amazing.

I was also intrigued by the chapter discussing the rise of our current (& out of date) toilet system, & the need for waste management of large groups of people. I didn't know the cholera epidemics in Europe & Asia were mostly caused by people pooping too close to their drinking water!

I don't know who I'd recommend this too, since I'm the only one I know interested in this topic. But for the poop intrigued like me*, it's a good read.

*Don't misunderstand me - I may be intrigued, but I still don't want to be anywhere near actual poop.

[Kamran Sehgal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something more than a novelty book about crap and actually delves into history, psychology and culture. There is a lot in this book that should be in our public discourse if we were not so shy at talking about our so called grossest national product.

There are also poop jokes, lots of poop jokes.

[Carrie]

Some solid points here.

[Joe Sicari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about humanities remaining unavoidable taboo. Its effects on history and culture. Done with just the right amount of humor but still intelligent and well thought out.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little more than disappointed with this book. I don't know if it's because I thought it would be the best book about poop ever or if it just wasn't original enough. Honestly, I had been exposed to most of the information in my other readings. So, maybe this book would be better for a poop newbie or someone looking for a quick overview. It wasn't until the chapters on art and media that I even learned anything new. However, I did learn some interesting wiping facts. Praeger does do a good job of varying the topics from psychology and Freud, sanitation and infrastructures to symbolism. Meh.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is without doubt the shittiest book I've ever read! 200 pages of crap!! ;-)

Seriously though...awesome read, couldn't put it down. Laugh out loud hysterical while loaded (accidental pun) with informative, thought provoking, and interesting commentary on our, uhm...potty habits. I learned way more about...this subject...than I ever thought possible. And I may never look at a toilet quite the same way again!

Highly recommend for anyone with a sense of humor, a slightly twisted interest in "unmentionable" subject matters, and those who aren't self conscious about reading a book in public with the giant word POOP on its cover.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birthday gift from Anne and Jon. hey, they know their audience.

While I did enjoy the book, I found the last 1/3 to be repetitive... almost as if the author needed to really push to make an editors requirement of 200 pages. Still, informative at times (I never knew the mechanics of compost toilets...)and witty at others (e.g., the psychological profile of shameful versus shameless shitters). A decent read.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to write anything about this book without devolving into poop puns, which may be a strong argument for Praeger's assertion that poop — the act and substance — is deeply symbolic in our culture.
I really enjoyed the history lessons, though thought some of the art analysis went on a bit long. But overall this was a fast and interesting read.

It's worth noting, or not, that I read this book over consecutive days entirely on the toilet.

[Ryan Daly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly entertaining read .. Full of laugh-out-loud poop humor and a ton of history that you never knew you wanted to know .. From the origins of sanitation systems to poop references in pop culture. Poignant social commentary as well

[Jeroen Berndsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An often hilarious and sometimes insightfull documentation on the 'last taboo', poop. Not nearly as good as 'Kakafonie. Komrij's encyclopedie van de stront' and not nearly as scientific as Danny Lamarq's 'Het latrinaire gebeuren', but still a very good read for the interested person.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I make it a point to read anything published by Feral House. And this has taken me down some strange paths. This book takes on an indelicate subject and handles it with aplomb. Just the right balance of science, humor, and philosophy.

[Kathleen Gamez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about a topic we don't talk about much even though we all do it. Interesting how history and current times influence how we think about pooping. First half of book good, then it dragged along.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredibly interesting so far.
yes, it's about poop. get over it.

[Ania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative book. A serious take on the history of plumbing and poo, and the way we've dealt with it throughout history. Funny too, but not childishly so.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very clever, very educational, and very entertaining. If you can handle the topic, it's well worth the read.

[Brendan Mcmackin]

fuuuuunnnnyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LeisureSuitLarry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but not as funny as I hoped it would bev

[Ronna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some parts were interesting in terms of socio-cultural/economic stuff. Some parts were just...well, you can imagine.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly entertaining