Astonishing and Extinct Professions

This was a fascinating look at weird, outdated, and often gross professions of the past. Each has text that explains the particulars of the professions and the historical context, as well as amusing illustrations that do a great job bringing those professions to life.

Some professions get a single page of info that consists of a paragraph of text along with an illustration, some get a two-page spread that has longer text and a larger illustration, while others, like explorers, take up a two-page spread full of text with minimal illustration in order to give information and context.

I will be reading this with my 9-year-old (who will undoubtedly be alternately grossed out and delighted) and look forward to reporting his reactions here.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Helvetiq for providing an early copy for review.

This is an amazing book of jobs that just aren’t done anymore, such as switchboard operator and Urine washers. The only one I disagree with being extinct is the milkman, as I know they still exist in the UK. Don’t know if there are any left in the US, but I am old enough to remember milk being delivered, which makes me feel ancient.

What is interesting is a lot of the jobs I have heard of, and for example, Whipping Boy is still used as an expression today, to mean someone who gets all the punishments. But Roddarmadams, who knew about them. (Women who rowed people around Sweden.) or Abtrittanbieter (walking toilets, people who carried buckets around for people to use. And of course, the rich, who employ men to be ornamental hermits, like living garden gnomes.

This is a cool book that talks about the profession, and why it came to an end, such as how human computers gave way to electronic ones, and how switch boards gave way to dialing the phone yourself.

There was even a section about jobs that look liek they are aout to go away, such as mail carriers being replaced by drones, and train drivers that might be replaced by automation.

Great book for all ages, really, though it appears to be meant for about middle school age.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This is coming out the 1st of August 2023 from Helvetiq.

This was a really fun book. It mixes the "You Wouldn't Want" series with the "Eyewitness" books to offer an eye-opening, frank look at weird and forgotten jobs throughout history.

This was a very enjoyable and informative read, not just for children but also for adults. I learned a lot and was introduced to many historical jobs I had never heard of before. There were a few very minor historical inaccuracies in the book, but overall a good introduction to readers about a very little discussed part of history.

From ice harvesters to wailing women,this book helps us explore astonishing jobs that used to exist (and were vital) back in the days .
As an adult , I have learned many news things by just reading this book. The book not only gives details of each job but also includes fun facts and why these jobs have gone extinct .
In my opinion, I find this book fascinating. It is incredible to learn about some weird, outdated, and surprising professions. This book concept reminds me of children's encyclopedia books from a couple of decades ago. Since every information is available by one click on the internet, we now rarely see these exciting books. You can call me old-fashioned, but I wouldn't mind having this book and anybooks that reminds me of those encyclopedias.
A must-have book in our library!

Special thank you to NetGalley and Helvetiq for providing an opportunity to read an early copy for review.

I received this ARC thanks to Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really adore history and this book kept me entertained. I also would mind being a professional griever or a garden hermit. This is a fun book and answers many questions about how things got done in the past. The jobs mostly make sense, I just never questioned who did them or how they were done.