The Book of Dirt
A smelly history of dirt, disease and human hygiene.
How did the ancient Egyptians brush their teeth? Who believed that bathing was bad for you? What did the ‘groom of the stool’ do for a living? What was the Roman cure for toothache? And how do astronauts go to the loo? These are just a few of the fascinating facts packed into this wise and witty book.
Dive deep into the history and science of dirt, discovering how people around the world keep themselves and their homes free from filth, how our ideas of what’s clean and what’s not have changed over the centuries, and why a little dirt can sometimes be a good thing!
'A rather wonderful and eclectic mix of topics … littered with fascinating details that are sure to impress and cause much glee and astonishment … This book is an unexpected delight with a wide ranging age appeal'
Armadillo
Piotr Socha is a graphic designer and illustrator, and one of Poland’s most popular cartoonists. Thames & Hudson has published two of his books, The Book of Bees and The Book of Trees. Monika Utnik-Strugala is a Polish lifestyle and design journalist. She is the author of several other books for children, including Christmas is Coming and Let’s Go to Italy.