Don't take municipal services for granted!

 

New York City 1893, Harper's Weekly
Source: http://www.onearth.org/article/digging-into-new-york-citys-trashy-history
 

 

Before the advent of municipal services, such as sewage treatment plants and landfills, what did people do with all of their waste? In The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic-, author Steven Johnson answers this question and takes us through a thrilling story of the consequences of poor environmental sanitation and health. The book chronicles the story of a cholera outbreak and how the response revolutionized public health and scientific inquiry in the developed world. 

 

A great read for educators or supplemental reading for students exploring the human impact on water supply and environmental health. This book was rated a National Bestseller, a New York Times Notable Book, and Entertainment Weekly's Best Book of the Year.

 

It was assigned a reading level of 18 and up but also appeared on a list of great science books for high school students by Discover magazine.

 

The Penguin Group has provided a reading guide with possible discussion questions found here.