An entertaining and enlightening exploration of why waste matters, this cultural history explores an often ignored subject matter and makes a compelling argument for a deeper understanding of human and animal waste. Approaching the subject from a varietyof perspectives--evolutionary, ecological, and cultural--this examination shows how integral excrement is to biodiversity, agriculture, public health, food production and distribution, and global ecosystems. From primordial ooze, dung beetles, bug frass,cat scats, and flush toilets to global trade, pandemics, and energy, this is the awesome, troubled, uncensored story of feces.
From the world of the dung beetle outwards, educator Waltner-Toews explores the uses and dangers of human and animal waste, touching on agriculture, biology, biodiversity, global ecosystems, and ecological sustainability. Readable scientific explanations are peppered with predictable puns. The bibliography lists scientific books, journal articles, and websites and the author's own website offers more references, pictures, diagrams, and calculations. Waltner-Toews has written many books of nonfiction and poetry. Distributed by Independent Publishers Group. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
