Lately, I've been consumed by the topic of shit. Like a lot of people, I've found myself doing a lot of it, which has led me to spend a lot of time in the bathroom. While I'm on the potty, I have time to read books about the subject. The books I've been reading about shit have been very interesting. As it turns out, while it's not exactly a good topic for dinnertime conversation, poop is a fact of life that affects everybody... from the lowliest skid row bum to world leaders. The quality of a person's fecal matter can tell a lot about their health and what they like to eat. The way a person takes a dump tells the world a lot about their cultural mindset. And the financial and environmental costs associated with poop can be surprising, as I've found out through my reading on the subject.

In any case, I thought I'd share some of the titles of the books I've been reading about poop, as well as a link to a favorite Web site. If you've ever been curious about fecal matter, I urge you not to be shy to read up on it. You might be surprised by what you learn...

The first book I want to highlight is Dave Praeger's 2007 book, Poop Culture: How America is Shaped by its Grossest National Product, a book I found both very funny and quite educational. Praeger, who runs PoopReport.com, wrote this book after the runaway success of his hilarious Web site. In this book, I found discussions of all things related to poop, from how to take one properly to how to clean up after one. Praeger even explores how much it costs to install plumbing in a house! This book may look like it stinks, but it's actually great for people who love to explore everything from history to anthropology to biology. It's great for nerds like me!

Next, I want to thrust the spotlight on Toilets of the World, a fascinating picture book by authors Morna E. Gregory and Sian James. This book is all about toilets in every corner of the world. The authors have divided this book into sections that show everything from the most devastatingly beautiful jewel encrusted throne to the most humble hole in the ground and everything in between. While the book is heavy on pictures, there are also some very interesting articles about the toilets of the world. As I read this book, I found myself marveling at human ingenuity.

Author Ralph Lewin takes a scholarly approach to poop with his 1999 book, Merde: Excursions in Scientific, Cultural, and Sociohistorical Coprology. This book is rife with sly wit coupled with a look at the study of excrement. Lewin's book is more academic than other books I've read on the subject. This is a great read for those who need a good resource about the importance of poop. It's not quite as entertaining as Dave Praeger's Poop Culture, but it is definitely more highbrow. You could use this one in a college thesis for sure.

I just finished reading 2007's What's Your Poo Telling You?, by Josh Richman and Anish Sheth, M.D.. This cute little book makes a great gift for certain people. It's chock full of facts and figures related to bowel movements, funny illustrations, and hilarious descriptions of the most common kinds of dumps. A calendar is also available.

Jane Wilson-Howarth has written an excellent travel/public health book called How to Shit Around the World. If you're planning a trip to an exotic location, this is a book that shouldn't be missed. Wilson-Howarth provides excellent advice on how to stay health presented with a dash of British humor.

Author Roland Flicket (heh heh, get it?) has written a punny, tongue-in-cheek book called Nosepicking for Pleasure: A Handy Guide. Personally, I didn't think this book was that great, but it might make a good gift for someone caught digging for gold.

And finally, I want to point out the other side of a shitty condition... being clean! That's where Katherine Ashenburg's awesome 2007 book The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History comes into the picture. This is a riveting book about the history of hygiene. If you've ever thought about what it might be like to live in a different era, especially when it comes to maintaining personal hygiene, this is the book for you!

More books on this subject are on the way. I will be posting links to them as I read them!