Most of us do not give much thought to the centerpiece of our bathrooms, but the toilet is a modern miracle: a fixture that has added decades to the human life span by reducing disease. On the other hand, less than half of the world's population can access a toilet that safely manages body waste. We are stuck in a sanitation status quo, suggests Chelsea Ward, because the topic of toilets is taboo. Traveling the globe, Ward profiles the sewage-savvy scientists, philanthropists, and activists who are using their skills to make toilets more accessible and efficient.

"[This book] shows just how vital toilets are to the future of public health—and does so with charm. Chelsea Wald spans the world, finding laughs and pathos in the surprisingly intricate science of sanitation."—Sam Kean