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Summary: Less-than-pleasant things explained...
Review: Being a person who has a morbid curiosity about the less-than-pleasant things in life, taking a look at this book was inevitable. Interestingly enough, the book was much more informative than I anticipated. It took a somewhat clinical approach to the subject, but also had it's moments of humorous and less-than scholarly observations and anecdotes.Sure enough, the book discusses those wonderful things we excrete, (sweat, sebum) cast out (feces, urine), reject outright (vomitus) and circulate within us (blood and bile)- and gives some interesting (for me, quite compelling) information concerning these fluids. The author covers the recorded history of such materials or things relating to them, like the story of Thomas Crapper's modern flush toilet. The author also did surveys of peoples' bathroom habits (how much TP they use, whether they look after they're done, etc.). Also included are moments of human excretion in literature and the arts, as well as TV and film- remember the Barf-O-Rama scene in 'Stand By Me'? Or eating beans by the campfire in 'Blazing Saddles'?.- but only up to the book's publication date of 1993, before bodily relief became the big thing on the tube & silver screen. If a new edition is ever to be released, covering the 'potty-time' moments of trendy favorites 'Beavis and Butt-Head' and 'South Park' alone would add more than a few pages... There's some strange moments too, like methods of proper urination when genital piercings get in the way, the advent of urine therapy as a treatment for certain ills, and other off-the-wall practices and notions concerning one's bodily castings. But probably the most interesting part of the book, at least for me, was the glossary of slang terms for the various types of bodily expulsion... half of which I never even seen or heard of before! Now I have a whole new arsenal to study and learn... heh. 'Late!
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Summary: The Best Thing Since Buggars!
Review: I have known the author since pre-school. When I heard of this work it all made sense. Simple Genius!
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Summary: Thorough, wry, fun treatment of "dirty" things
Review: One of the best RE/Search books in the entire series, the Guide to Bodily Fluids is an expansive and educating tour into the dimly-lit areas of all the smelly, gross, and/or funny substances to emanate from humanity. A must-have for fans of toilet humor. Enough science to give the layperson a grounding in the intricacies of, say, why dogs eat their own dirt, and why some people think a cup of urine in the morning keeps the doctor away. A quirky chapter towards the end has some wonderful literary references to bodily fluids, though I was saddened to see my personal favorite--Sancho Panza's evacuation of his bowels from horseback, due to extreme terror, in "Don Quixote"--was missing. In each chapter are responses to a hilarious survey the author conducted to try and get to the bottom of such questions as "How many times a day do you pick your nose?" and "What kind of foods make you fart?" This book is equally at home on a bookshelf or next to the toilet, for those constipated times when you wish you could learn more about the subject. A triumph of learned comedy.
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Summary: Absolutely superb
Review: Spinraid is a genius and his guide to bodily fluids is totally brilliant. He deals with countless taboo subjects with a sanity and clarity that many 'mainstream' publishers would be proud of. Anyone with any vague interest in how their body secretes and excretes and the sociological aspects of bodily functions (think about it - that must be everyone in the whole world) should buy two copies of this book, because one copy of this magnificent tome will be stolen.
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Summary: A fun book for anyone intersted in strange, worthless trivia
Review: The Guide to Bodily Fluids is one of the best book purchases I have made to date. It is very complete and interesting. Taking you from the scientific to the outright weird. In a very amusing, tasteful fashion they explore this socially hushed subject and enlighten you on all aspects of this messy subject.
I was hooked from beginning to end. Every page briming over with excretia. For anyone that enjoys bits of trrivia and useless, fun, facts, this book will be a real treat. I keep my Guide to Bodily Fluids out for ALL to enjoy in my home! You should too
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Summary: Informative and Extremely Amusing
Review: The perfect mixture of scholarship and humor, this book, with its "icky" topic, is worthy of serious attention. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that the reason I love it most is that it makes me laugh-- on several occasions I laughed so hard that I woke up my wife, who was trying vainly to sleep next to me. As Spinrad's sources tell about their own habits regarding their precious bodily fluids, it's impossible not to recognize how much we share in regards to these daily substances-- and impossible not to laugh at how we treat these taboos.
Rating:
Summary: Informative and Extremely Amusing
Review: The perfect mixture of scholarship and humor, this book, with its "icky" topic, is worthy of serious attention. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that the reason I love it most is that it makes me laugh-- on several occasions I laughed so hard that I woke up my wife, who was trying vainly to sleep next to me. As Spinrad's sources tell about their own habits regarding their precious bodily fluids, it's impossible not to recognize how much we share in regards to these daily substances-- and impossible not to laugh at how we treat these taboos.
Rating:
Summary: Informative and Extremely Amusing
Review: The perfect mixture of scholarship and humor, this book, with its "icky" topic, is worthy of serious attention. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that the reason I love it most is that it makes me laugh-- on several occasions I laughed so hard that I woke up my wife, who was trying vainly to sleep next to me. As Spinrad's sources tell about their own habits regarding their precious bodily fluids, it's impossible not to recognize how much we share in regards to these daily substances-- and impossible not to laugh at how we treat these taboos.
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Summary: Don't be fooled.
Review: This is not a textbook - nor would Martha approve. Oh no. I had this on my bookshelf at work for a few years where it gathered dust, and then i brought it home to reside in my bathroom. It's much happier there. Many a house guest has initiated the "what's that book in your bathroom all about?" conversation. Perhaps better entitled, "things you've always wanted to know about _____, but you never would have bothered to pursue unless this book were here in this bathroom while i had some time to kill." Then again, i'm not in the book publishing business.
Rating:
Summary: Don't be fooled.
Review: This is not a textbook - nor would Martha approve. Oh no. I had this on my bookshelf at work for a few years where it gathered dust, and then i brought it home to reside in my bathroom. It's much happier there. Many a house guest has initiated the "what's that book in your bathroom all about?" conversation. Perhaps better entitled, "things you've always wanted to know about _____, but you never would have bothered to pursue unless this book were here in this bathroom while i had some time to kill." Then again, i'm not in the book publishing business.
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