{"product_id":"astonishing-and-extinct-professions-89-jobs-you-will-never-do-9783907293935","title":"Astonishing and Extinct Professions: 89 Jobs You Will Never Do","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe jobs we've lost are windows into the past\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGladiators fought for glory. Ice harvesters chopped up lakes. In the USA, human computers, called rocket women, calculated the paths of the spaceships with pen and paper.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll these jobs really existed. Now they are gone. This is a book of extraordinary periods in history on six continents. It spans the centuries of the professional fartists and the walking toilets, of the brave riders of the Pony Express, and the lazy ornamental hermits. Marvel at Germany's feared coffee detectives and London's dreaded executioners. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe stories behind: Mandarins, Wailing women, Body snatchers, Executioners, Whipping boys, Explorers, Walking toilets, Object swallowers, Fartists, Powder monkeys, Armpit-hair pluckers and many more... \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSilver Medal winner of the \u003cb\u003eCalifornia Eureka! Nonfiction Children's Book Award 2023\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNominated for the \u003cb\u003eChildren's Literature Association of Utah Beehive Awards 2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarkus Rottmann\u003c\/b\u003e lives in Zurich, Switzerland with his wife and young daughter and writes for books, magazines, the stage and museums. He collaborates with photographers, directors, illustrators, artists and, recently, with a magician. He writes a regular column on mountain literature and has even produced and audio guide to the Zurich cemetery.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMichael Meister\u003c\/b\u003e an award-winning Swiss illustrator. His work has appeared in \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Atlantic\u003c\/i\u003e and many other publications around the world. He has illustrated five books, including \u003ci\u003eSwisstory \u003c\/i\u003e(Bergli Books, 2019), which won \u003ci\u003eThe Crystal Kite Award \u003c\/i\u003efrom the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. He lives with his family near Basel, Switzerland.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAshley Curtis\u003c\/b\u003e was born in California and grew up in Bern, Switzerland, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has have lived in Switzerland for the last 25 years. He holds B.A. and M.A.R. degrees from Yale University and is the author of \u003ci\u003eAlles ist beseelt\u003c\/i\u003e(Kommode Press, 2021), \u003ci\u003eHexeneinmaleins\u003c\/i\u003e (Kommode Press, 2019), Error and Loss: A License to Enchantment (Kommode Press, 2018), \"\u003ci\u003eO Switzerland!\u003c\/i\u003e\" (Bergli Books, 2018), and \u003ci\u003eWhy Do the Swiss Have Such Great Sex? Extraordinary Answers to 66 Improbable Questions about Switzerland\u003c\/i\u003e (Bergli Books, 2018). \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Helvetiq","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50610408292626,"sku":"9783907293935","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_6e3506ea-eeb8-4fc8-bf65-3949942ad244.jpg?v=1732341641","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/astonishing-and-extinct-professions-89-jobs-you-will-never-do-9783907293935","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}