The Humanure Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Composting Human Waste

Flip Phone 808: I started by reading the 4th edition online pdf for free. Later, I bought a used copy of this third edition, only because I prefer the title to not have the cutesy and irreverent subtitle "--it in a nutshell."
Haven't actually read the third edition, yet, but zero doubts that it is just as useful as the 4th.

If you are on the fence about buying the 4th, 3rd, 2nd, or first edition, find the online version on the author's website. Then, after your mind is blown, consider buying a copy to support his work.

You could also check out his youtube videos, rather short, but illustrative.

It doesn't take very many pages of reading to trust the author knows what he's talking about. But there are potentially huge "getting started" barriers. Like, "what if he is exaggerating when he says there is no odor?" Do I have enough space for a pallet compost bin? Do I want to tell people about this? I could see a lot of people seeing the title and never bother reading it (fecophobia), but if you are open minded enough to read it, you will likely be convinced. Then you will be searching for sawdust, or buying peat moss, as well as a few buckets, and building a lovable loo. Or...

United States on Sep 01, 2023

Marta Von Runge: Just what a person needs to understand the biology taking place in a composting toilet. Helpful in understanding how this process works.

United States on Mar 05, 2023

Daisy: Love this approach, the method works

United Kingdom on Jan 14, 2023

tscott: Very eye opening! Lots of great info with clear explanations. I don’t like that he has to bash religion or God in his commentary. The book could have been written very well and clearly without his one sided opinion on the subject. Other than skipping over those parts, there is a lot of good info to be had. If it wasn’t for the in-needed opinions, I would have given five stars.

Canada on Nov 22, 2019

KP: I didn’t expect to ENJOY reading this, but I LOVED it! I rarely read anything scientific so this was a stretch but I adore how Joseph blends science with spirituality and practicality. This is a big step on my journey to reconnnecting with my body and the environment (something my society has taught me to disconnect from since I was a child).

Canada on Feb 20, 2019

R. McCarthy: This book provides a very comprehensive overview of composting and the benefits of adding humanure to the system. It also shows you how to build a basic diy composting toilet....get bucket...put seat on bucket... Box in.

If like me your looking for information on the science behind dry composting toilets and how best to build one which works efficiency with the minimum of emptying then go elsewhere. Other than a brief mention of urine divertors, that was it.

The book is definitely geared towards people who want to produce manure or are looking at becoming more environmentally friendly, both laudable, but it isn't my primary motive. I just want to build a dry composting toilet.... So sadly this book didn't help me in this respect.

I've given it 3 stars though, for providing a lot of useful general info. I knocked 2 off because it's more than a little preachy..... Annoying for anyone who has long since bought the argument and doesn't want to revisit the issue.... Which you will be required to do virtually throughout the book.

United Kingdom on Nov 14, 2016

potameid: We've been living off the grid and pooping into sawdust buckets for nearly 2 years now and do not miss having a flush toilet. We got a  Reliance Products Luggable Loo Seat Cover  and that works just fine as a seat on the buckets. Next purchase will be one of these to monitor the pile:  REOTEMP A36PF-D43 Heavy Duty Compost Thermometer - 36" Stem, Dual Scale C & F

We get the sawdust for free from a local sawmill. We get most of our cover material in the form of spent grains from a local craft brewery. All free.

After the first week it already started feeling barbaric to use perfectly good fresh water in toilets. Our state-mandated septic system (required for greywater treatment) will never need pumping because no solids will ever go into it. Plus in a couple of years we'll have nice compost to add to the sandy soil here...

Win-win-win.

A friend was visiting recently and remarked that our house didn't smell like cats, although we have three of them - he asked where the litter box was. "Just behind that curtain, 6 feet from us," we answered. "Right next to our OWN litter box - our sawdust buckets." He was stunned and couldn't believe he...

United States on Oct 31, 2015

Eddy Winko: Changed the way I think about things; bought the book two years ago and after following the guidelines on an outdoor toilet for this period of time I'm about to install three indoors. Make sure you read the book a few times and ensure you follow the do's and don'ts to the letter (only two pages in the book) and it will work. It takes me less than five minutes a week to deal with two peoples waste (plus guests) which I'm sure is a lot less time than some people spend per day looking after a flushing toilet! The book may be a bit technical at times and you probably don't think you need all the info, but it's all good stuff to convince yourself and others that this is the right thing to do in an over populated and polluted planet.

United Kingdom on Oct 28, 2012

el: i've learned more about composting than I ever knew (and micobiology) from this book. Initally I searched "composting human waste" as i was considering getting a 5th wheel but didn't want "crud" in the plumbing if i could use another method...i'm so very happy i stumbled across this book. thank you all for your great reviews which convinced me to buy! Now it's my turn

the more i learn the more it kills me that so many of us have a mental block and most can't even consider the thought of having anything to do with recyclying human waste. This book lays it out so simply yet with great detail and respect to the living earth (in every aspect! from preserving clean water, not being a disease on the earth etc etc). the methods laid out in this book teach you how to recycle human waste in a natural way which is safe, clean, odor free, and most importantly which transforms "it" into the purest cleanest humus/dirt you can find! truly! science proves it!

I live in a rental located in a beautiful part of california and I would expect to have amazing soil in my back yard but instead it's bone dry and rock hard...roots of tree's are exposed etc...I've had to bring lots of dirt to...

United States on Nov 02, 2010

woodcutter: Everyone should read this book, even if they have no intention or ability to use a humanure composting system. It provides a wealth of information on a subject that has been ignored for too long...human waste - how to dispose of it in a sensible, sustainable, practical, useful manner. We haven't flushed a toilet in this house in eight months, since we got this book and built our own sawdust toilet and composting box out back. We had a serious drought here this summer and our well was REAL low, but we had no problems because we weren't FLUSHING FOUR GALLONS OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER UNDERGROUND each time we went in the bathroom. I always wondered why we eliminate in water, anyway. And it doesn't stink, the compost box doesn't stink, it's simple and straightforward and clean and the humanure toilet's time has come! Everybody who comes in our house gets dragged into the bathroom by my husband to meet our new humanure toilet! Then I drag them outside to meet my wonderful compost box! So far we've had one convert, a couple with a camp who were using a stinking old outhouse, and they are just thrilled with the idea of using a humanure toilet next summer when they move back to camp. As a...

United States on Nov 17, 2007