Joseph Jenkins

Joe began self-publishing when he turned his masters thesis into the non-fiction Humanure Handbook and published it in 1995. The first edition of the book was execrable, but it developed a life of its own somehow, and has gone on to sell over 85,000 copies so far and be translated in whole or in part into 23 languages over four editions. The book has received numerous book awards and been mentioned on such places as the Wall Street Journal, Howard Stern, Playboy, NPR, BBC, CBC, etc. The non-fiction Slate Roof Bible, in three editions (most recent July 2016), now in full color and hardcover, records decades of work within the slate roofing industry worldwide. The first edition received the National Roofing Contractor’s Gold Circle Award, and the 2016 edition received 10 book awards. The Balance Point - a Missing Link in Human Consciousness (May, 2018) is an experimental book, a blend of fact and fiction, or what is referred to as “creative non-fiction." The author states on the title page, “This book is based on actual occurrences, although some characters, chronologies, and details are rearranged and/or fictionalized for literary purposes. Names of the individuals in this book have been changed to protect privacy. All the scientific and environmental data is factual.” The Balance Point is available as a print book, or a Kindle book. It is also available on Smashwords. Slate Roofs 1926 (published February 2020): This 132-page book is a reproduction of the original 84-page classic “Slate Roofs,” published in January 1926. Joe adapted the title to be more compatible with a 21st century readership, and made some corrections and stylistic changes. Almost all the information is presented exactly as in the original publication, even anachronistic references. Included at the end of the book are 47 additional pages with 21st century guidelines for slate roof installation, repair, and restoration, as well as excerpts from the 2016 Slate Roof Bible 3rd Edition. The Compost Toilet Handbook (published May 2021): 254 pages, 203 photos and illustrations, 161 color pages, hardcover, ISBN: 978-1-7336035-1-5; Trim Size: 6"x9". The Compost Toilet Handbook is an illustrated instructional manual explaining how to make, use, and manage compost toilets, which are waste-free toilets that rely on the biological process of composting to recycle toilet material. It is based on the author’s 40+ years of first-hand experience. The 254-page indexed book has 161 pages of color photos including 203 photos or illustrations from 13 countries where compost toilet systems are in use.