The attention-getting title of this tome belies the depth of the discussion within on a topic of concern to anyone interested in public space. It consists of twelve essays by urbanists and historians on the politics of the potty, and how the way public restrooms are designed reflects social attitudes towards gender, class, and disability. This is the kind of book we love, the kind that finds an under-recognized issue and tackles it from a variety of angles. If you can get beyond the ick factor, Toilet is a great read, and as author Harvey Molotch says, “Peeing is political.”
