Review of The Truth About Plumbing

[Whitney Sweet]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Truth About Plumbing" by Avram Friedman.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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In our world of convenience, we rarely consider how we got to where we are or how we can maintain our lifestyle.

Enter the unsung hero of our homes and infrastructure, the plumber. The author asks us to consider the losing battle we are fighting against having water brought to our homes and what we must sacrifice for this luxury.

Writing from his own life experiences, Friedman takes us through his history of learning the skills for plumbing. One story he recounts is that of young men living in a kibbutz, seemingly discovering the ways of the plumbing world as if they were uncovering the mysteries of the universe. Later, we learned about the ever-changing plumbing code and how innovations often don’t work out as planned, such as the cardboard tubing, covered in tar, that was implemented as the connecting piping from homes to the sewage system. Shockingly, things didn’t turn out so well.

The author has presented a well-written and well-edited text, filled with humour, cautionary tales, the pleas for recognition of an unappreciated occupation, and whimsy, as he embellishes his writing with invented language. The plumber, he tells us, deals in literal poop, breathing flux fumes, and conversing with vermin in the cramped crawl spaces of our homes. Their jobs are a necessary part of our world, but we often blame them for excessive costs or causing inconvenience in our lives.

I rate this book five out of five. I found the storytelling immensely enjoyable and entertaining. The author provides ample proof that we should reconsider the honour attached to those who tackle the dirty jobs for us. All praise the plumber, who is amply skilled and deserving of recognition. I recommend this book for any home or business owner. A town council or two would also benefit from the read. It certainly helps bring an overlooked topic into more precise focus.

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The Truth About Plumbing
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