Dirt by Terence Mclaughlin

Dirt by Terence Mclaughlin

Delve Into the Fascinating World of Dirt

Dirt is a matter of opinion, according to public health and hygiene authority Terence McLaughlin. In this engaging, thoroughly-researched, and often humorous study of the imperfections of human existence and our relationship to them, McClaughlin dissects human attitudes about the slime, mud, stench and filth which has accompanied society through history.

Our notion of cleanliness has a marked cultural aspect. For instance, McLaughlin cites Old Testament examples of cleanliness which, unbeknownst at the time, helped protect observant followers from the plague. The famous baths of ancient Rome were seen as progress for personal hygiene, and later scorned by Christians who rejected all things Roman. McLaughlin recites a long litany of examples of how we accept or reject substances, exploring why we dislike sensations such as stickiness and sliminess. Cultural attitudes about everything from factory smoke to personal hygiene are constantly shifting with the economic and political exigencies of the era.

In this age of pandemic viruses, there has never been a more important time to observe how people think about the possible contaminants around us. Dirt is a key resource for anyone wishing to understand humanity's role in shaping our environment.

This title is also available from Echo Point Books in paperback, ISBN 1635619467.

McLaughlin, Terence: - Terence McLaughlin (1928-1980) graduated university with a bachelor of science in chemistry and was employed as a research chemist at Unilever Corporation, achieving the post of company director. Subsequently he founded a consulting firm and began writing a series of scientific textbooks. Encouraged by his wife, Eve, a historian, he turned his attention to writing history and science books for the general public, becoming an authority on public health and hygiene. The present book (first published as Coprophilia) delves into the relationship humankind has had with dirt and cleanliness through the ages.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781635619461
ISBN 10	1635619467
Title	Dirt
Author	Terence Mclaughlin
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Echo Point Books & Media
Year published	2020-08-17
Number of pages	194
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.