Gene Logsdon is one of my favorite agricultural authors. Yes, I have a few favorite agricultural authors. Logsdon always has a way of saying things that at first glace seems a bit "country" and a bit far-fetched, but after pondered for a bit turns out to be genius.
His latest book, Holy Shit: Managing Manure to Save Mankind is a look at agricultural and human "waste" (yes, human manure), how it effects the environment, and how it can be effectively utilized. There is a large focus on farming in this book, so it is less useful as a how-to manual for the average home gardener. But if you have any livestock, then there is probably a chapter or two for you. Also, this book focuses more on traditional farming methods - not entirely "traditional" since Logsdon is actually a pretty non-traditional farmer - but he is not quite at the level of enviromental or biological systems integration as some Permaculture practioners would strive to be.
However, what this book really does is show that when manure is managed properly, it can go from being a large,costly, and smelly liability to a precious, soil-building commodity worthy of your investment. An entertaining and educational read, classic for Logsdon... and a title that is sure to catch people's attention and spark worthy conversation over a topic mostly people try to avoid.
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