Super Short Summary

The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters by Rose George explores the history, technology, and urgent need for global sanitation. George contrasts experiences in Liberia and London to highlight sanitation as a privilege. She examines the impacts of poor sanitation on health and safety, recounts historical developments in sewage systems, details global toilet innovations, and underscores the challenges faced by people without adequate sanitation, specifically focusing on India and China. The book also discusses public restrooms' cultural differences, bio-solids from sewage sludge, and the campaign against open defecation.