All the Dirt: A History of Getting Clean

by Katherine Ashenburg

Overview

Cleanliness is next to godliness. At least that was the point of view espoused by John Wesley in 18th century England. But accounts of people bathing go back to the Bronze Age in the Indus Valley. All the Dirt on Getting Clean is a lively, informative exploration of the evolution of keeping clean. Starting with a number of myths about cleanliness, the author quickly establishes how our ideas have changed drastically over time, and how the definition of cleanliness in one part of the world may differ radically from another. There is just enough of a gross factor that the target audience of 9 to 12-year-olds will find the book as entertaining as it is enlightening. Colorful spreads, lots of sidebars, humorous illustrations, and photos make it ideal for browsing as well as reading in depth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554517893
Publisher:	Annick Press, Limited
Publication date:	10/11/2016
Pages:	108
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 6.70(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	1110L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Katherine Ashenburg writes for a wide variety of publications, including The New York Times, and The Walrus and Toronto Life. She is the author of three non-fiction books for adults, All the Dirt on Getting Clean is her first book for young readers. Katherine lives in Toronto, ON, Canada.

Francis Blake lives in London, United Kingdom.

Table of Contents

Introduction Eight Myths About "Clean" 4

Chapter 1 Ancient Grime: 3000 BCE to 306 CE 8

Chapter 2 Saints, Steam, and Soap: 307 to 1550 20

Chapter 3 It's a Foul, Foul World: 1550 to 1715 32

Chapter 4 Some Like It Cold: 1715 to 1800 42

Chapter 5 Baths and How to Take Them: Europe, 1800 to 1900 52

Chapter 6 Wet All Over at Once: North America, 1800 to 1900 62

Chapter 7 Soap Opera: 1875 to 1960 74

Chapter 8 The Household Shrine: 1960 to the Present 84

Chapter 9 Good Microbes, Bad Microbes: Into the Future 92

Image Credits 102

Selected Sources 103

Index 105

Editorial Reviews

10/01/2016
Gr 3–7—Ashenburg draws on her adult book The Dirt on Clean to delight the school-age set with a chronological history (mainly Western) of the myths and rituals that have dictated human cleanliness from ancient through modern times. Readers will learn about this odd, and sometimes backward-progressing, history. For instance, Roman emperors constructed lavish imperial baths for the common man, but European rulers of the Middle Ages (and their successors all the way up to the 18th century) discouraged their subjects from bathing. The writing has a humorous tone as it marches through centuries of steam houses, public baths, and street side showers to innovations in soap, shampoo, and toothbrushes. Stylized fonts are used throughout to delineate the chapter topics and side stories, while photos and illustrations reinforce the text. This is similar in topic to Patricia Lauber's picture book What You Never Knew About Tubs, Toilets, and Showers, though more detailed. VERDICT A factual yet witty take on dirt and cleanliness. Highly recommended for school libraries.—Sharon M. Lawler, formerly at Randolph Elementary, Randolph AFB, TX

School Library Journal

2016-07-20
Nine illustrated chapters loosely trace the various ways cultures around the world have dealt with keeping their bodies clean—or not.The introductory chapter, “Eight Myths About ‘Clean,’ ” includes such clever hooks as a warning to the squeamish about references to “poop, bodily fluids...and other shocking subjects.” Indeed, the text abounds with such tidbits as the propensity of rats to nibble on gentlemen’s unwashed wigs. The chapter on “Ancient Grime” briefly summarizes The Odyssey, using it to discuss the importance of washing and bathing in 12th century B.C.E. Sidebars tell of bathing in the Indus Valley in 3,000 B.C.E., as well as washing habits in ancient Egypt and China, while the primary narrative then revisits Greece (including Athens versus Sparta) and introduces Roman baths. (Readers may find Ashenburg’s alternation of dates and centuries confusing as they navigate this nonlinear history.) The text successfully shows the influences of religion, class distinctions, geography, individual thinkers, and advertising on cleanliness behaviors throughout centuries and over most continents, ending with current practices in Canada and the U.S.—including the ongoing debate about antibacterial products. Colorful pages brim with sidebar anecdotes related to bathhouses, soap, toilets, and surprised international travelers. There are some liberties taken to keep the text simple and accessible, but the myth-shattering is well-documented. This lighthearted overview may well lead readers to further research. (sources, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews