Flushed

How the Plumber Saved Civilization

W. Hodding Carter

• Publisher: Atria Books
• Year: 2006
• Print ISBN: 9780743474092
• eBook ISBN: 9781416531876
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: World History
• Index: History

Hodding Carter writes, "The unsung hero of human history was, of course, the Brain of Drains, the Hub of Tubs, the Power of Showers, the Brewer of Sewers...the humble plumber.... The Irish may have saved civilization, once, but plumbers have done so countless times." When we consider the amenities that really make a difference in our well-being, surely good plumbing must rank near the top. But rarely have we taken the time to appreciate the engineering marvels that bring clean water into our homes with the turn of a tap and wash our waste products away with the flip of a lever. Until now. Witty, anecdotal, and thoroughly entertaining, Flushed not only chronicles the long and notable history of plumbing, but follows Hodding Carter's travels and travails as he casts his own Roman lead water pipes inspired by the writings of Pliny the Elder, descends into the sewers of London, installs a state-of-the-art Japanese toilet in his bathroom, and fearlessly tries to understand everything about this most underappreciated pillar of civilization. A winning combination of history, science, and firsthand experience, Flushed will entertain and educate all those who have never contemplated the hidden intricacies of this miracle of everyday technology.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title Page
• ALSO BY W. HODDING CARTER
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Epigraph
• Contents
• INTRODUCTIONJASMIN
• 1THE HUMBLE PLUMBER
• 2WHEN LEAD RULED
• 3DO AS THE ROMANS DO
• 4HOW WE DO IT NOW
• 5FOUL
• 6A TOUR OF THE LONDON SEWER
• 7IT MAKESYOUR GARDEN GROW
• 8BLAME IT ON THE CHRISTIANS
• 9THE BIRTH OF THE TOILET
• 10“WHAT WAS IN THE TOILET?”
• 11TOUCHING THEUNTOUCHABLES
• 12THE POWER OF POOP
• Conclusion
• POSTSCRIPTRUSSELL AND JASMIN: UNCENSORED
• SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS