What Shat That?: A Pocket Guide to Poop Identity

by Matt Pagett

Book Overview

Ideal for any nature lover or backyard biologist, WHAT SHAT THAT? is an original and insightful survey of the substance that--like it or not--unites every living creature, from your pet dog to the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580088856
• ISBN13: 9781580088855
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 0.5" x 4.8"

Customer Reviews

Answers to your burning questions.

Clever little book that is much more educational and scientific than would be expected based upon the clever artwork on the front cover and the catchy title. I purchased this for the purposes of going into the wood and hiking with my kids. It's well written, appropriately illustrated, and a good quick read. While some people may consider this to be a satire, it's really more of a reference book, albeit one written with a nice touch of humor. This is a good book for all ages as it addresses the subject without being juvenile.

What's not to love?!

If you've ever wanted to be able to identify anything from a rabbit to a fox to a bear or a koala by its dung, well, this is the book for you. A two-page spread on each animal includes loving descriptions of each animal's fecal habits, as well as photos or drawings of turds both large and small. The book is just small enough to fit into a large pocket or a small bag, making it easy to take along as subway reading (in case you relish those weird looks from strangers) or to help you identify those piles of crap you find while hiking. You'll learn a huge amount about how various animals' feces are used to enable scientists to better track and analyze their movements, habits, and health. The book includes a wide array of factoids regarding how dung is used: as fertilizer, tourist souvenirs, a water purifier(!), a necessary part of complex ecosystems, a source of food or shelter for some critters, and more. The book has a humorous, irreverent tone, invoking every possible name for poo that you could possibly think of and then some. I loved this book equally for its tone and for the fascinating bits of information scattered throughout--some hilarious, some poignant, some quite gross. You'll learn how the CIA used tiger poop during the Vietnam War, why ants farm and protect aphids for their honeydew-dung, and how ancient civilizations used various types of scat in medicinal remedies. Not to mention the wealth of information scientists have gathered about animals thanks to their dung, either directly or indirectly.