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textpublishing's review
‘Packed with humour...The Story of Shit is an enjoyable romp through culture, science, and history.’
Australian Book Review
‘Intestinal fortitude required. Prudes beware.’
North & South
‘[An] utterly unique, bizarre and interesting take on this universal-yet-taboo topic…Dekkers is an enthusiastic proponent of crap.’
AU Review
‘A fascinating, very funny look at something common to us all.’
Daily Telegraph
‘A funny but earnest investigation—part social history, biology lesson and cultural study—that takes Chaucerian delight in the subject.’
Sydney Morning Herald
‘The Story of Shit is entertaining, amusing, educational and revealing…Sitting on the toilet will never be the same’
ArtsHub
‘[A] remarkable foray into every aspect of diet, digestion and defecation…This is a fascinating, milestone work that should run out of bookshops like shit off a hot shovel.’
GPSpeak
‘It is such a wondrous thing when a scientist can explain facts in a humorous, straightforward and thrilling fashion.’
Toowoomba Chronicle
‘Dekkers doesn’t hold back in his brimming history…You learn a lot…So, do I recommend a book that tells how the CIA tried using transmitters disguised as tiger turds to eavesdrop on the Viet Cong? Oh…faeces, yes.’
New Zealand Listener
‘A masterful writing style that is not only unique in biology but without equal in the whole of Dutch literature. The Story of Shit shows Dekkers once again to be in possession of a golden pen.’
New Scientist
For those who aren’t aware: we are not our brain, we are our gut. There is always that unmistakable Midas touch: his brilliant, sharp style makes it hard to suppress a laugh or a smile.’
Medisch Contact
Australian Book Review
‘Intestinal fortitude required. Prudes beware.’
North & South
‘[An] utterly unique, bizarre and interesting take on this universal-yet-taboo topic…Dekkers is an enthusiastic proponent of crap.’
AU Review
‘A fascinating, very funny look at something common to us all.’
Daily Telegraph
‘A funny but earnest investigation—part social history, biology lesson and cultural study—that takes Chaucerian delight in the subject.’
Sydney Morning Herald
‘The Story of Shit is entertaining, amusing, educational and revealing…Sitting on the toilet will never be the same’
ArtsHub
‘[A] remarkable foray into every aspect of diet, digestion and defecation…This is a fascinating, milestone work that should run out of bookshops like shit off a hot shovel.’
GPSpeak
‘It is such a wondrous thing when a scientist can explain facts in a humorous, straightforward and thrilling fashion.’
Toowoomba Chronicle
‘Dekkers doesn’t hold back in his brimming history…You learn a lot…So, do I recommend a book that tells how the CIA tried using transmitters disguised as tiger turds to eavesdrop on the Viet Cong? Oh…faeces, yes.’
New Zealand Listener
‘A masterful writing style that is not only unique in biology but without equal in the whole of Dutch literature. The Story of Shit shows Dekkers once again to be in possession of a golden pen.’
New Scientist
For those who aren’t aware: we are not our brain, we are our gut. There is always that unmistakable Midas touch: his brilliant, sharp style makes it hard to suppress a laugh or a smile.’
Medisch Contact
ramonamead's review
2.0
I'm fascinated by societal norms and how they come to be. I liked the idea of this book because that's what Dekkers is addressing: why is it okay to talk about some bodily functions and not others? It started out strong, I was laughing and learning interesting stuff. I appreciate the author's snarky tone and fitting toilet humor.
However, I couldn't get through this book without skimming large portions. Once I got about 40% in, the content felt redundant. The author bounces all over the place, from the science of digestion to pregnancy and birth, to urination, to ancient Greece, and back again all over the course of a couple pages.
Because this is translated from Dutch, I suspect there are cultural differences that made the writing style difficult to follow. Also, my digital advanced copy did not contain many paragraph breaks, making the already dense material even more so.
This may be worth giving a try in a different format if you are interested in the history and biology of digestion, defecation, and other bodily wonders in relation to societal expectations.
Many thanks to NetGalley for my free advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. You can find my reviews and other bookish musings at www.ramonamead.com.
However, I couldn't get through this book without skimming large portions. Once I got about 40% in, the content felt redundant. The author bounces all over the place, from the science of digestion to pregnancy and birth, to urination, to ancient Greece, and back again all over the course of a couple pages.
Because this is translated from Dutch, I suspect there are cultural differences that made the writing style difficult to follow. Also, my digital advanced copy did not contain many paragraph breaks, making the already dense material even more so.
This may be worth giving a try in a different format if you are interested in the history and biology of digestion, defecation, and other bodily wonders in relation to societal expectations.
Many thanks to NetGalley for my free advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. You can find my reviews and other bookish musings at www.ramonamead.com.
thatdarnreader's review
3.0
“‘See you later,’ you murmur, but you don’t really mean it. ‘Take care now,’ and you pull the chain”
A fun and funny journey through the literal story of shit.
Perhaps too lengthy in it’s telling but informative nonetheless.
A fun and funny journey through the literal story of shit.
Perhaps too lengthy in it’s telling but informative nonetheless.
nietzschesghost's review against another edition
4.0
My first thought when I saw this listed on NetGalley was - "surely, it can't be a book about actual shit" but, to my amazement, it actually is. I feel that this is the perfect way to write a book on such a taboo subject - lots of facts and detailed information on one of the bodies natural functions which Dekkers injects with laugh-out-loud humour throughout making what could've been a particularly dry topic, a pleasure to read.
Initially, this book was brought to my attention by my favourite weekly magazine - New Scientist, who wrote a glowing review for it and described Dekkers as being "in possession of a golden pen." I was particularly interested in learning about digestion with it playing a big part in the issues I have had going on with my abdomen for what has got to be close to ten years by now. The NHS is becoming such a liability, patients have to learn things for themselves in order to try and work out what it is that is wrong with them. It's times like these when I wish I could go back and choose between a law degree and a medical degree again, as this time I would've chosen to become a doctor. Hindsight is 20-20, as they say.
I have seen various complaints about some of the language used in the book e.g. crude language, but honestly what did you expect with a title like that!? I feel that had the "The Story of Shit" only talked about the biological functions without the humour there would be many more people complaining it was boring. You can't please everyone, I guess. If you're prone to being prudish, this is definitely not for you!
"The Story of Shit" is a real triumph and Dutch writer Midas Dekkers certainly knows how to entertain an audience, keeping them laughing and learning the whole way through this book. He is a bestselling author and biologist so he knows his stuff on this subject. I didn't realise that this was translated into English from the Dutch, this usually means the translator has done a sterling job - kudos to Nancy Forest-Flier. I sometimes feel a translator doesn't get the recognition they deserve as, in some ways, a book's success can rely on an excellent translation. I am glad she is mentioned by name here.
An informative, educational and quick read for me. I simply cannot stressjust how funny it is - literally, there were points when tears were streaming down my face from laughing so hard! Dekkers is so unbelievably witty and has written an accessible and engaging book. I imagine that this will be the most unconventional read of 2018 for me, an accreditation it deserves.
I hope the topic doesn't stop people from reading it and learning about their own bodily functions. The book actually goes beyond discussing just crap and delves into the subjects of wind and urine, toilet paper, and the CIA's use of transmitters disguised as tiger turds to eavesdrop on the Viet Cong. There are some intriguing anecdotes all the way through the book. A great job by all involved.
Many thanks to Text Publishing for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Initially, this book was brought to my attention by my favourite weekly magazine - New Scientist, who wrote a glowing review for it and described Dekkers as being "in possession of a golden pen." I was particularly interested in learning about digestion with it playing a big part in the issues I have had going on with my abdomen for what has got to be close to ten years by now. The NHS is becoming such a liability, patients have to learn things for themselves in order to try and work out what it is that is wrong with them. It's times like these when I wish I could go back and choose between a law degree and a medical degree again, as this time I would've chosen to become a doctor. Hindsight is 20-20, as they say.
I have seen various complaints about some of the language used in the book e.g. crude language, but honestly what did you expect with a title like that!? I feel that had the "The Story of Shit" only talked about the biological functions without the humour there would be many more people complaining it was boring. You can't please everyone, I guess. If you're prone to being prudish, this is definitely not for you!
"The Story of Shit" is a real triumph and Dutch writer Midas Dekkers certainly knows how to entertain an audience, keeping them laughing and learning the whole way through this book. He is a bestselling author and biologist so he knows his stuff on this subject. I didn't realise that this was translated into English from the Dutch, this usually means the translator has done a sterling job - kudos to Nancy Forest-Flier. I sometimes feel a translator doesn't get the recognition they deserve as, in some ways, a book's success can rely on an excellent translation. I am glad she is mentioned by name here.
An informative, educational and quick read for me. I simply cannot stressjust how funny it is - literally, there were points when tears were streaming down my face from laughing so hard! Dekkers is so unbelievably witty and has written an accessible and engaging book. I imagine that this will be the most unconventional read of 2018 for me, an accreditation it deserves.
I hope the topic doesn't stop people from reading it and learning about their own bodily functions. The book actually goes beyond discussing just crap and delves into the subjects of wind and urine, toilet paper, and the CIA's use of transmitters disguised as tiger turds to eavesdrop on the Viet Cong. There are some intriguing anecdotes all the way through the book. A great job by all involved.
Many thanks to Text Publishing for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
julesg's review against another edition
4.0
The author takes a humorous approach to a quite important topic. At times I thought it was hilarious, at other times the many quotes from other books made this a boring read. I recommend this book to anyone who is willing to explore the topic of our human excrement without cringing. It is important to get in touch with ones own excrement (figuratively at least, but you might try the literal approach - see what I did there, the author's humour rubs off).
lightlysprkling's review against another edition
2.0
Book was way more enthusiastic and lyrical about shit than I was expecting. I thought it would be more of a straight up science ed read.
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