Rubbish!: The Archaeology of Garbage

An exciting and erudite investigation of the geography, history, composition, mythology, demographics, and widespread misperception of garbage--and the odd behavior of those who have made garbage what it is today. "Who would have thought reading about (garbage) could be so interesting and so much fun?--Chicago Tribune. Line drawings.

It is from the discards of former civilizations that archaeologists have reconstructed most of what we know about the past, and it is through their examination of today's garbage that William Rathje and Cullen Murphy inform us of our present. "Rubbish!" is their witty and erudite investigation into all aspects of the phenomenon of garbage. Rathje and Murphy show what the study of garbage tells us about a population's demographics and buying habits. Along the way, they dispel the common myths about our "garbage crisis"--about fast-food packaging and disposable diapers, about biodegradable garbage and the acceleration of the average family's garbage output. They also suggest methods for dealing with the garbage we do have.