Flushed: How the Plumber Saved Civilization

Though it's a pretty safe bet that the only people who pick up this book will be those who interested in sewage, the author's easy humor, average homeowner's point-of-view, and excitement for his subject should ensnare the casual browser. The book's also extensive: Carter, a history and nature author, discusses water-delivery and sewage systems from the height of Rome to the sewers of London to present-day Boston. Anecdotes and interviews pair well with thorough history and technical explanation, and Carter reserves a chapter to discuss the plumber himself: his profession, his training, and why, in the case of a nuclear holocaust, plumbers ""will be our knights in droopy jeans."" Though he can be a little too loose with the toilet-humor (chapter 12 is called ""The Power of Poop""), his populist, live-and-in-color approach could make this a crossover hit.