Thursday Bonus Review: Nonfiction

What's Your Poo Telling You? by Josh Richman and Anish Sheth, M.D., 2007.

This is a serious book that can’t take itself too seriously. Any medical book that wants to discuss the different type of poo that comes out of us and what it tells us about our health shouldn’t take itself too seriously because we would all be giggling to ourselves anyway.

And there is no better way to describe the different forms and consistencies this matter can take than to use the lingo we’ve been using since we were five. When you read chapter headings like, “Soft Serve,” “Log Jam,” and “Hanging Chad,” you know exactly what they’re talking about. Clinical descriptions would take sentences of lengthy words that no one would understand anyway, and make the subject more confusing than it needs to be.

Along with each description is an actual explanation from Dr. Sheth (known as Dr. Stool in the book), of what causes that kind of poo to happen and whether it’s something to worry about. This is the real meat of the book, and this is why it is necessary to have. What does this mean? Should I be concerned? What should I do to help fix it? Do I need to see a doctor? These questions are answered.

The book is also full of fun facts about poo and many illustrations that make the book enjoyable reading. You can giggle at the jokes, and you can use the information to help figure out if you’re okay.